1. I am currently re-installing software on my PIII running Windows 98SE.
The operating system recently had a clean install on a new hard drive.
2. At some point the computer stopped auto-loading the install page
after inserting the cd-rom. Not a problem, I just clicked on the cd-rom
drive in "My Computer" and clicked on whatever autorun/set-up application
was on the cd and proceeded with the install.
3. However, on the software I am trying to currently trying to install there
is no auto-run program and I am getting a dialog box asking where to look
for "autorun.exe."
4. Curiously, at some point earlier what appears to be a Windows
application titled "~" appeared on my desktop. It is 177kb. I cannot
open it.
5. My questions: 1: Where can I find "autorun.exe" and where should
I place it on my computer? 2: Is it possible that the "~" file on my
desktop is the missing autorun.exe ? If it is, should I rename it and
where should I place it?

Any help would be apprecieated.

Thanks,

Mike

Hi Mike

Are you able to right click on the "~" item and look at its properties?

Regards,

H

Yes, I can right click and bring up it's properties. That's how I know it is 173kb. However, there is no other pertinent info listed.
I'm also looking into uninstalling some
cd-rom drivers that may also be causing this problem.

I de-selected the drive in device mamgers in the safe mode, and that seemed to help. I still don't know what that file is doing on my desktop. It did
that the day before as well. Hmmmmm.

Mike,

If you look in C:/Windows/Desktop does "~" show up in the items listed there? If it does, can you quarantine it to another folder temporarily? Or just drag it to the Recycle Bin, and see what if any effect that has.

H

I Have Window 98 & 98se Upgrade On My Pc Will It Hurt My Pc

Yes, I am able to put it in a folder. There already exists the exact same file
in the trash which had appeared the day earlier on the desktop. It had
the same "~" name and seemed to be a by-product of re-installing the
software. After getting the drivers correct, the cd-drive appears to be
functioning properly.

"3. However, on the software I am trying to currently trying to install there
is no auto-run program and I am getting a dialog box asking where to look
for "autorun.exe.""

Is this software on a CD? Software install CD's usually have this as part of the install package.

Open Device Manager (right click on My Computer and choose Properties/Device Manager) and click down to your CDROM Properties then Settings. Is the Auto insert notification box checked?

Sometimes you can initiate an install by r-clicking on the .inf file which comes with the software.

The "~" file is a backup of your OE address book. It has been initiated by this MS patch.

There's good coverage of your options here.