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Computer Help and Support

raccoon

(31,110 posts) Mon Sep 17, 2012, 11:22 AM Sep 2012

Windows sometimes shows what I call "ghost files." When you're looking at the contents of a folder,

these files start with ~$ and their icon looks faded.

Why does Windows list them this way?

2 replies

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Windows sometimes shows what I call "ghost files." When you're looking at the contents of a folder, (Original Post) raccoon Sep 2012 OP

I'm not sure why, but they are usually temporary files created while a file is in use arcane1 Sep 2012 #1

Microsoft Office ChromeFoundry Sep 2012 #2

arcane1

(38,613 posts)

1. I'm not sure why, but they are usually temporary files created while a file is in use

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon Sep 17, 2012, 11:27 AM

Sep 2012

The faded icon indicates that they are "hidden" files, and you have Windows setup to show them instead of hide them.

ChromeFoundry

(3,270 posts)

2. Microsoft Office

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon Sep 17, 2012, 02:10 PM

Sep 2012

...uses these temporary files to store changes before you save so that changes can be "recovered" if the application crashes before saving the document. Access databases uses a similar method to store table "lock" information for multi-user shared databases.

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