Outlook Express ~ Desktop File "Fix"

It has been posted that this problem is caused by an "upgrade" to Outlook Express from Microsoft... and that this ~ file is a backup of your address book created when you make changes to your Address Book that had previously been save to a file named (yourloginname).wa~.

Upon futher research and reading the problem is the April Outlook Express Patch numbered Q330994..... as of this date Microsoft still has not posted any info on this error and/or a fix to it..... You can Uninstall this patch and it will FIX the problem.. but you will not have the "protection" that this patch provides... So you might want to try this....

For some reason Microsoft uses the absolute file path that the file you execute resides for some system settings..... Including where to save this ~ file....

To see this you will want to find the directory in which your Outlook Express executable (msimn.exe) resides and run the actual executable.. If you make some changes to your address book and then close Outlook Express you will notice that the ~ file shows up there. Rather dumb don't you think!?!?!?

To fix this you will want to change the "Start in" field in the properties of the shortcut that you are using to start Outlook Express... weither this shortcut is on the desktop or in your Start menu (if Outlook Express is started from the Start Menu then the ~ file is saved to the root of your C: drive, or whatever drive is your primary partition). If you do then then the ~ file is written to that directory... you will still have a backup of your address book, you do not have to remove this patch, and you no longer have to put up with is Microsoft f*!*@*-up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a suggestion.. you might want to change this "Start in" field to the directory where the (yourloginname).wa~ file is located.

Hope this helps you people out there...

-trekgod.

 

Hi trekgod.
I don't know for sure .

What happens if you're fix screws up the fix if ever provided by MS
2 when they do fix, they might sneak it in with some other fix and not say anything.
3 why tinker with it, the address book is still functional and current when changed , even after we delete the strange file on the desktop..
Or am I missing something again , as I don't use OE much nor any address book..nor its backup's

"If you do then then the ~ file is written to that directory"

why ? wouldn't you have to also delete it there ? or wherever itshoulda woulda went ?


Regards
Lonny

 

The file in question is a backup file of your address book. It's supposed to be created each time you change your address book. It's not a bug that the file is created; the bug is in the location windows puts the file after it's created. If you just delete it instead of saving it where it belongs you won't have a current backup of your address book. If you ever have to restore your address book, the backup you have will only have the names and addresses that were in it before you installed the buggy patch because the one that you deleted should be overwriting the old one. This should also answer your second question.

 

Zander thanks for the clarification

Lonny

 

What happens if you're fix screws up the fix if ever provided by MS

That is a good question Lonny.... but I do not belive that it will cause a problem.... this is because you are only changeing the path that windows thinks that the executable was run from.... My understanding of windows is that this is not used much... And even if you "apply" this "fix" to the directory where this file should have gone in the first place, the directory with the (yourloginname).wa~ in it, it should not mess up that fix cause that is where it "belongs ".... I doubt very much, unless micorsoft is completly incompetent, that changing the Start in path for a shortcut will have any dammage at all.....

If you would like a longer explination of what I belive might be going on with this ~ file error please send me an e-mail.

But if in the meantime you want to get rid of that file from your desktop and not to have to uninstall the patch that caused this error then this will work for you.

And it is not like it is unreversable... if ever in the future you are having problems with OE then just remove that path from the Start in field and leave it blank... but that means that windows thinks it was ran from the desktop..........

-trekgod

 

trekgod--This bug was caused by an MS patch for OE that came out in October. I think it was 328676. I cannot remember if uninstallation was an option for this one, but no one suggested it. The April 2003 Patch may have continued the problem from the October patch since the former was "Cumulative ".
P.S. An earlier thread by Mariola (in which you recently posted) was started two weeks befoe the April 2003 patch came out.
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16820

 

Thanks Welshjim for the info... I guess that I did not think of the cumulative nature of the mentioned patch....
but the point is still valid... if you want to get rid of this ~ file, at least from this desktop, you can either try this "fix" that I came up with or you can uninstall the OE Q330994 patch...

If anyone out there who had this ~ file problem before the April patch came out, installed the Q330994 patch and the uninstalled it in an attempt to stop the ~ file problem and found that it did not work please post a message.... I would like to know...

it worked for me before I found this "fix ".


Don't count on Microsoft to fix their f-ups,
-trekgod.

 

Hi again.

Welshjim ,trekgod and all
excuse me if its already been spoken about ,I'm sure it has.
any explained again and again--But
Strange things this file, Ive been tinkering a-Little bit again as usual

this ~ file that appears whenever you change anything OE-address book is not really an OE bug nor and address bug, but rather to do with IE's profile assistant whether enabled or not, if you have a shared contact within the address book this ~ file will keep happening if no it wont
or it maybe a combination of above, so since i don't see it mentioned , Do you mind trying to explain ?

I have no reason to have a profile with IE, not being on any network and all, Not really clear to me right now ,exactly what I could use it for.nor any profiles set up.

apparently the profile is created automatically I never entered it..
ie shared contacts
Regards
Lonny

 

Lonny Jones

In the OE address book you should (as a standard thing) two "folders ".

One that says "Shared Contacts" and another that says "Main Idenity Contacts ". If you make no other Idenities this is all you will ever have in your Address Book. If you make other Idenities (aka profiles) in OE then in those Idenities you will see in the Addres Book the same "Shared Contacts" folder with the same contacts in it and a seperate folder with that idenities personal contacts that no other idenity can see.

So with that said.... when you run OE for the first time it makes the Main Idenity in which all of your Contacts, Accounts, Mail and other settings are "stored ". The reason for the "Shared Contacts" folder is to share those contacts with other idenities that you may or may not make..... k.. I know that was obvious but it may help some.....

Lonny... my question to you is: Are you saying that if you do not have any contacts in the "Shared Contacts" folder AND make changes to the Address book, adding or removeing from the Main (or some other) Idienty folder, the ~ does not show up?

Cause I have never had any contacts in that "Shared Contacts" folder but I still get that ~ file when I make changes to my Address Book under the Main Idenity Contact folder....

The thing that appears to be the error is not that this ~ file is being created but that OE is nameing it differently and putting it in a different place and it did before the buggy patch was installed. The ~ file is akin to the Word Backup file tech.. but is supposed to occurs when you change your Address Book and close OE and it is stored in a specified folder where your actual Address Book .wab file lives. It is microsoft trying to be "helpful" so that you have a backup of your Address Book incase OE crashes and you loose your contacts.

Please let me know if this helps any.

-trekgod

 

Lonnie

I liked your Recommend idea, so I stole it.

You know we emulate our heros and people we look up to!

EDIT: Then took the idea 1 step farther! Smile. Thanks.

Mike

 

Hi

"my question to you is: Are you saying that if you do not have any contacts in the "Shared Contacts" folder AND make changes to the Address book, adding or removeing from the Main (or some other) Identity folder, the ~ does not show up?" "

No It no longer shows up even after changing things from the address book , and keeps current.each time without the darn ~ file appearing .

trekgod try this backup You're address book, because I don't know how exactly these thing are interrelated..and Ive never had to share it with other users import nor export..Nor do I have anything in there except now to tinker.

Close OE if you're looking at the address book through OE
Open an IE(like as if its not already) go tools IE options> advanced -security area [X] and uncheck enable profile assistant
if checked ,,Not sure if this even needs to be done, apply ER OK
then content tab IE options [my profile] and remove any profile's
there may again appear another ~ file on desktop< but no there after whenever we change the address book.

Right now I have none ,I see two to choose from if so desired
two bogus address's I created for this post(experiment) or I could create one from there .

So

and creates a profile for Internet explorer..Or maybe when we fist sign up for a connection, or open IE for the first time.

mflynn Good, maybe you can explain it better
Hay you ammended you're sig
PS Only reason I found it becouse 1 I dont use the address Book
Nor2 OE much , and when I looked at IE's profile ~ up poped that file


Lonny

 

Lonny,

I am sorry but I could not duplicate your success on this matter on my computer with the method that you provided.

I opened IE and unchecked the enable profile assistant and then looked in the content tab -> my profile button but there is no ability to remove anything in that area. Can you please explain what you ment by that.

You mentioned that you did not use OE or the Address Book much but you still get this ~ file..... keep this in mind: If you use OE at all to reply to people it will place their address in your Address Book and there is your change to the Address Book.. you can stop this by going to the OE -> options -> Send.

Please remember that you will only get this ~ file on your desktop if one you run the program or shortcut from the desktop, otherwise it is in the same directory as the icon you double clicked, in the case of the Start Menu or Quick Launch toolbar look on the root of the partition that OE is installed on.

My "fix" is really only ment to make OE place the ~ file in a known spot and not wherever it was executed from.

-trekgod

 

well try this create one if not already, then click on it then the next tab name you can remove them from there,

Good luck
Lonny

 

I am sorry but what I think you are suggesting is not possible.

Are you saying in IE 6 go to Tools->Internet Options->Content tab-> My Profile... button and then find something to remove... What I am getting in the My Profile section is a listing of contacts in my address book and the ability to have IE make a new contact for my profile or to use one of the contacts in my address book.. that is it.. no ability to add, remove, or anything else.

After the enable profile assistant box has been unchecked.....

-trekgod

 

If you don't have any shared contacts listed within the address book create one with Internet explorer,(then remove)
in IE 6 go to Tools->Internet Options->Content tab-> My Profile
On the top ensure X create a new entry in the etc etc
Hit OK Highlight what ever is there and use the remove to the right.
then go back.
If one is already there when you hit the My profile button up pops a different window click on name tab ad we can again choose to remove.
This stops the ~ from appearing ever again

strangely enough there appears to be random behavior with this profile assistant(via address book) if after you remove them and click OK sometimes it still shows you have one so if thats the case go start programs -->-- to address book and remove any shared contacts that show there to ,,,
and once again through-IE option>> in my profile will,, should now come up with create etc etc
or select from( list of all to choose from) cancel back out..

(If it matters) realize im doing this with one explorer open and get ti IE optios thriugh control panel


I wonder if we can completely remove the shared contacts from addy book also Not just whats listed
Also I find it strange that the original addy keeps showing back up

Lonny

 

Lonny,

I now understand what you are doing with this and I applied it to my settings.... unfortunately it did not work on my computer... if I use your settings for IE or not the ~ file still appears in the same directory as the icon I double clicked to edit my Address Book.... save the Start Menu and Quick Launch which puts it in the c: root.

What (exact) versions of Windows/IE/ & OE are you using, perhaps this is more complicated than we though.

WIN 2K 5.00.2195 SP4
IE 6.0.2800.1106
OE 6.00.2800.1123

for me.

-trekgod

 

trekgod
My version current
Version:6.0.2800.1106
product ID XXXXXX
cypher strength: 128-bit
Updateversion;SP1;Q328970;Q324929;Q810847;Q813951;Q330994;Q813489;Q818529
and windows ME
wab.exe version 6.0.2800.1123 shows being modified 3/3/2003

Outlook explress ver 6.00.2800.1123


" perhaps this is more complicated than we thought "

Possible so But I noticed erratic behaviar maybe try again if no go undo you previous tweek and try again.

Gee I can see why this bothers people , if they have OE set to auto send and add every new one sent to address to the book ~ would sure appear alot
Lets give the others time to help to

Mike " went step futher " ???

Best regards
Lonny

 

Lonnie

"Mike " went step futher " ??? "

Did you not read my message where I said I stole your idea

Reccomend this site (in your signature)

My step farther was to add also

Subscribe to this site (in my signature)

Mike

 

Lonny,

I am sorry but I cannot get what you suggest to stop the ~ file from comming back.......... I have tried it several times and no go... I also attempted to look up the difference on OE when installed on different OS's... not much and nothing to explain this error.....

As a side note I have not been able to find any vulnerability this bug might cause so I am going to give up and stick with my "fix ".. I suggest using whatever fix is best for you... I have some of my clients and my family using the Start in "fix ".. it appears to be much simpler and all functionality of OE and IE are left intact. I am going to watch the updates that I install to watch for the final fix to this bug... if Microsoft ever gets off their A@@.....

thanks for you help and time

-trekgod

PS- with the "Start in:" fix you never get the ~ file where you don't want it.. I have tested it over 100 time and it only appears in the directory that you specify.

 

As Zander has posted, the ~ file is what should be the .wa~ file, which is the backup for your Address Book (which is the .wab file).
So regardless where you generate the ~ file, the more important consequence (but perhaps not so important, anyway) is that the backup for your Address Book is not getting updated anymore.
If you care to update the backup, the next time you generate a ~ file, rename the ~ file to "youremailID.wa~" and substitute it for the now outdated youremailID.wa~ file which sits in the same folder as the .wab file (Address Book).
P.S. The ~, .wa~ and .wab files are best opened with wab.exe found in your "Open With..." window. That will produce the proper Address Book formatting.