Many files with ~ at the end, example: abc.dll~CT78FMF6
System: Dell Precision Notebook, Windows 7 Prof 64bit, latest updates, True Image 2016 latest update, Build 6595
Hi,
on my system partition there are thousands of file duplicates with the same size and same date like:
DellSystemDetectLauncher.exe (408 KB)
DellSystemDetectLauncher.exe~AVRR49EB (408 KB)
DellSystemDetectLauncher.exe~CT78FMF6 (408 KB)
or
precision-m4600_service manual_de-de.pdf (30.702 KB)
precision-m4600_service manual_de-de.pdf~CHCCVUO5 (30.702 KB)
Nearly every folder contains these duplicates.
I think I remember that these were left over after a crashed full image recovery (not started from recovery CD as recommended, but directly within TI from a separate local partition, no idea why this crashed).
I do have an full image back-up that does not contain these files from some weeks ago, but it contains a severe system bug, therefore to recover from that is not an option.
Every new full image backup on the external disc drive now contains these files.
My question: Can I delete these files (del *.*~*) from the system partition without damaging my system or what would you recommend how to go forward?
I really need help and appreciate any advice very much.
Regards
Bodo


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Steve, thanks for your recommendation. The system is currently working OK with all these files present.
Can you please give me instructions how to exclude files from backup.
Am I right:
- first generate a full image back-up including these files
- exclude the files from full image back-up and perform another (separate) back-up
- restore the 2nd back-up and check if the system works OK
- if not, go back to the 1st back-up
Thanks and best regards
Bodo (sorry for non-perfect English, I am from Germany)
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Bodo, if your system is working OK at present, then there shouldn't be a need to do the steps you listed (i.e. backup with these files excluded then restore that back again).
From your initial post, you already have a backup that contains these ~files, plus have an earlier backup from before they were introduced, so you could recover specific files from that if needed.
I did a quick test on my own Windows 10 system as below and this showed that there are also legitimate Windows files that may be found by using *.*~* - so this may be a slower process to remove all these files!
C:\>dir *.*~* /s Volume in drive C is Windows10 Volume Serial Number is 129D-4BF0 Directory of C:\ProgramData\VMware 28/06/2017 17:10 581 vmnetdhcp.leases~ 1 File(s) 581 bytes Directory of C:\Users\All Users\VMware 28/06/2017 17:10 581 vmnetdhcp.leases~ 1 File(s) 581 bytes Directory of C:\Users\smiths\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data 12/06/2017 15:20 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF112e8f.TMP 13/06/2017 16:12 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF13dbcd.TMP 11/06/2017 21:43 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF15c29f1.TMP 10/06/2017 14:28 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF17dd8e.TMP 22/06/2017 19:58 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF1a9f3f.TMP 09/06/2017 19:40 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF269225.TMP 10/06/2017 11:05 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF270d8f.TMP 17/06/2017 19:49 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF281f0e.TMP 29/06/2017 15:40 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF2e18b8.TMP 12/06/2017 09:18 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF3c505e.TMP 14/06/2017 19:41 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF4870bd.TMP 23/06/2017 15:25 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF66cbeb.TMP 20/06/2017 14:40 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RF9ffb52.TMP 24/06/2017 14:22 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFa9876.TMP 21/06/2017 17:15 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFa9e8b4.TMP 18/06/2017 12:57 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFb4b0d.TMP 09/06/2017 16:51 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFbd2bb.TMP 08/06/2017 17:16 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFbe27a0.TMP 25/06/2017 13:24 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFc0bcd.TMP 11/06/2017 15:36 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFcd1ad.TMP 15/06/2017 15:54 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFda9ae.TMP 27/06/2017 16:58 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFdbb30a.TMP 19/06/2017 18:12 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFde909.TMP 28/06/2017 17:18 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFf484a.TMP 16/06/2017 10:38 1,048,576 CrashpadMetrics.pma~RFfbadb.TMP 25 File(s) 26,214,400 bytes Directory of C:\Windows\servicing\Packages 16/07/2016 10:36 9,408 Microsoft-Windows-NetFx-AutoNgenEnable.3.5~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 06:59 1,167 Microsoft-Windows-NetFx-AutoNgenEnable.3.5~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.mum 16/07/2016 10:33 9,408 Server-Help-Package.ClientEnterprise~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-US~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 10:16 1,423 Server-Help-Package.ClientEnterprise~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-US~10.0.14393.0.mum 16/07/2016 10:27 9,218 Server-Help-Package.ClientEnterprise~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 06:58 1,200 Server-Help-Package.ClientEnterprise~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.mum 16/07/2016 10:33 9,409 Server-Help-Package.ClientProfessional~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-US~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 10:16 1,427 Server-Help-Package.ClientProfessional~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-US~10.0.14393.0.mum 16/07/2016 10:27 9,221 Server-Help-Package.ClientProfessional~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 06:57 1,200 Server-Help-Package.ClientProfessional~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.mum 10 File(s) 53,081 bytes Directory of C:\Windows\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE} 16/07/2016 10:36 9,408 Microsoft-Windows-NetFx-AutoNgenEnable.3.5~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 10:33 9,408 Server-Help-Package.ClientEnterprise~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-US~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 10:27 9,218 Server-Help-Package.ClientEnterprise~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 10:33 9,409 Server-Help-Package.ClientProfessional~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~en-US~10.0.14393.0.cat 16/07/2016 10:27 9,221 Server-Help-Package.ClientProfessional~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.14393.0.cat 5 File(s) 46,664 bytes Total Files Listed: 42 File(s) 26,315,307 bytes 0 Dir(s) 38,293,544,960 bytes free
You may need to experiment with doing a similar listing ( dir *.*~* /s ) starting from different directories, i.e. do this from C:\Program Files to see how many files are found in that folder path (including subfolders). Repeat for other folders, so that you can identify what is safe to move or delete and what should be left alone?
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Bodo, after a little more thought and testing, you can use a different search string:
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.14393] (c) 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. C:\Windows\system32>cd\ C:\>dir *.???~???????? /s Volume in drive C is Windows10 Volume Serial Number is 129D-4BF0 File Not Found
Using wildcards: dir *.???~???????? /s this should only match with the unwanted temporary files leftover from the failed restore. The /s is to search in subfolders.
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