# Computer types help please - Strange desktop folder **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 5, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452 "2003-07-05T22:02:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/1 "2003-07-05T22:02:05Z")
Computer types, can you help me? Ever since I upgraded to Win XP Professional, I have had this icon on my desktop, simply named “~” (without the quotes). I have deleted it several times, and it keeps coming back. I got the bright idea to open it using Notepad today, and it contains e-mails! E-mails of people I wrote to up to two years ago! Along with control characters and weird stuff. I’ve run virus scan after virus scan, and there is no virus on this PC that I can see. I even used the online virus scan which showed a clean PC. Anyone know what this file is and why it’s there on my desktop? Any help is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/2 "2003-07-05T22:09:21Z")
Is it actually emails, or email addresses that are in this file? Daizy ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/3 "2003-07-05T22:10:22Z")
I suppose there IS a difference LOL! Good point Daizy! They are e-mail addresses. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/4 "2003-07-05T22:25:00Z")
The reason I ask, is, we had been trying to track down the cause of this for quite some time, at another board I belong to. You might want to read through [this](http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19515&perpage=15&pagenumber=1) for a sort of fix. Daizy ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/5 "2003-07-05T22:33:46Z")
Very interesting reading, **Daizy**. At least it’s not some OE worm e-mailing everyone in that file with the worm… Strange that it’s on my desktop, though, and not in an IE folder or hidden away. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/6 "2003-07-05T22:34:47Z")
Solution [found](http://filext.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=188). ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/7 "2003-07-05T22:36:39Z")
Leave it to **Q.E.D.**! Thank you, my friend! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/8 "2003-07-05T22:38:44Z")
You’re most welcome Rico. Happy to help. Hope you get it fixed. It would seem my hamsters had a head start on yours Q.E.D 😛 Daizy ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-types-help-please-strange-desktop-folder/186452/9 "2003-07-05T22:50:32Z")
**Daizy** 😛