~ "This shows up on my desktop every so often???

-----Original Message-----
A microsoft looking box with this "~" sign underneath
shows up periodically on my desktop. I keep deleting it
but eventually it is back. One time I walked into the
room and heard my computer dialing (I am on dial-up). I
got to checking and that little creature was back on my
desktop. I looked further and in the control
panel/network I found second dialup information in
there.
I deleted it and thought I may have solved the problem
but I didn't. The ~ keeps appearing. I did a search
today
and found a ~ in c:\program files\common
files\microsoft\shared\works shared file type "file" and
a file named Lucoms~1.ExE=1Df6f3E9.pf in
c:\windows\prefetch file type "PF File". Could these be
culprits? Should I delete them? Is there a way to know
what files I can safely delete. I am a novice so don't
get too technical. Thank you!
.

The ~ behind a name like Lucoms~1.ExE simply means there
are too many letters in the actual name to show. It
means nothing. An EXE. file can be a virus and cause
wierd stuff. A "shared file" being deleted may cause an
application to not work or it may just be left over from
a previous "uninstall" you did and can be safely
removed. If removing a "shared file" causes a problem
with an application you can just reinstall the
application. You didn't say what O/S you use. Win98 or
XP etc. That might help get an answer.
Jim