Mysterious Desktop Icon!

[mightyatom]

Hiya folks! This is my first post. I'm no pro when it comes to pc's but boy! I'm learning so much!. Also, my pc talk is pretty basic as you'll see!

Over a week ago I noticed a new icon on my desktop. It was the Windows icon (the one with the 'trail'). There was no text below it, just this thing: ~
It can't be opened or found anywhere - it doesn't seem to do anything. I keep deleting it but it always finds it's way back.
Properties of the icon are as follows:

Type: file
Location: C:\WINDOWS\Desktop
Size: 227KB (233,268 bytes), 245,760 bytes used.
MS-DOS name: ~
Created: 16 May 2003 15:34:13
Modified: 16 May 2003 15:34:14
Accessed: 16 May 2003
...archive.

I've also noticed that the properties change slightly each time, for example:
16 May size: 227KB (245,760 bytes) 245,760 bytes used
18 May size: 228KB (233,758 bytes) 245,760 bytes used

I dunno if there's a connection but my pc has started 'playing up'. Minimize/maximize/close (the little squares at the top right of all windows) sometimes lock up and I have to wait several minutes for the action to take place. During this time nothing else works. I've also had the same problem with delete. I often have to use Ctrl/Alt/Del to cancel.

I know this may sound paranoid but I just found out about the new super virus (Fizzer?) which manages to avoid detection by AV's. I run Norton AV regularly and keep it well updated. I also have Tiny Firewall. I run Scandisk/Defrag and Spybot plus I delete Temp Int Files and cookies regularly.

I have Windows 98 second edition.
Authentic AMD
AMD-K6(tm) 3D Processor
192.0MB RAM


Any ideas my friends? Thanks in advance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Restek]

If it's size changes regularly, then something must be accessing it. You've done the right thing by running norton & spybot - I'm fairly sure the latest dat update for norton includes detection of fizzer, so you should be OK. Is spybot also up to date?

I'd try and find out what is accessing that directory - run msconfig & disable everything on the startup tab. If the directory is now no longer accessed or recreated, re-enable programs one by one till you get a lead

[petalyn47]

Hello People- I am new today in this forum, and have some problems, but reading through provious posts to maybe find my answers, I find that mightyatom is getting this weird file randomly appearing on the desktop as I am also. I have not noticed that the properties change (I will watch for this now), but after scanning for virus' opened the file. It fills the screen with a whole mass of boxes, %$#@& etc etc. My computer has been acting up, but not necessarily in association with this file or it's appearance.

[brad]

Are you all talking about the Tilde Icon? ()
This was a bug in a MS Critical Update to Outlook Express.
Here's an article: .
brad