A file that is named "~" appears on the desktop or in another location on the hard disk when you edit a contact in the Outlook Express Windows Address Book

Article ID: 830921 - View products that this article applies to.
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/ )
Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS

When you edit a contact in the Microsoft Outlook Express Windows Address Book (WAB), a file that is named "~" may appear on the desktop or in another location on the hard disk, such as C:\Program Files\Outlook Express.
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CAUSE

This problem may occur if the following conditions are true:
  • You are running Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (SP1).
  • You have installed the update that is described in either of the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:
    331923
    (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/331923/ )
    An overview of the Cumulative Update for Outlook Express 6.0 S331923
    330994
    (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330994/ )
    MS03-014: April, 2003, Cumulative patch for Outlook Express
The problem is caused by an error that results from the installation of either of these updates. When you edit the WAB, Outlook Express creates a backup file that is named User_Name.wa~. The backup file is stored in the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\User_Name\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
However, when this problem occurs, Outlook Express creates a backup file that is named "~." The backup file may be stored on the desktop or in another location, including the following folder:
C:\Program Files\Outlook Express
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RESOLUTION

Update information

To resolve this problem, install security update 823353. For additional information about security update 823353, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-018.mspx
(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-018.mspx)
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WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, move the "~" file to a location that you want.

Note Do not delete the file because it is a backup of the Windows Address Book. You may need the backup file if you lose the Windows Address Book. To use the backup file, you must rename the backup file User_Name.wab and then copy the file to the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\User_Name\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
For additional information about how to restore the Outlook Express Address Book and mail folders, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
188854
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/188854/ )
How to back up the Outlook Express Address Book and mail folders
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.
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MORE INFORMATION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To disable this update after you apply it, change the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Outlook Express\Hotfix
Change the value of the subkey to the following value:
  • Value name: Q830921
  • Type: REG_DWORD
  • Value: 0
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Properties

Article ID: 830921 - Last Review: March 29, 2006 - Revision: 3.4
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
Keywords: 
kbhotfixserver kbqfe atdownload kbie600sp2fix kbie600presp2fix kbfix kbbug KB830921
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