automatically copies file in different code

[destinywrtr19]

I have been using Word for a long time and never had this problem. Before I
begin, I want to say that I have run a virus scan on Word and the files that
I will mention. I found no viruses or threats so this problem is application
based. And this problem just started recently I will open up a file and Word
automatically makes a copy of this file but it is an inaccessible file. What
I mean is, yeah, I can open this copy but I can't read it because the coding
is all wrong. I usually delete it. It looks like this: ~$filename. When I
open this file it will give me a window that says File Conversion. And then
it asks me to select a specific coding for it. No matter what I choose it
doesn't work. I still cannot read that file. When I checked on this file's
properties it says it is a hidden file, which is odd seeing how the file it
is copied from is not hidden. But this is not what bothers me, because I
still have my original file and nothing bad has happened to that. But my
question is how can I keep Word from automatically copying the files I open?
It is getting annoying because I have to keep deleting the copy and wish to
stop getting said copies altogether. Please help!

Destiny

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Word normally creates several temporary files when you open a document and
work on it. See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=211632 "Description of
how Word creates temporary files" for more details. Word automatically
deletes these temporary files when you close the document or when you exit
Word, but these temporary files can be left behind on the hard drive if Word
or Windows crashes. If the ~$filename.doc file is in the same folder as your
original document, then you are probably seeing the temporary Owner file. It
is a hidden file because you're not supposed to open it.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

To add to what garfield-n-odie has said, the file you are seeing is normal
and necessary. It is the "owner" file created when you open a document to
prevent anyone else from opening the document for editing while you have it
open. This file is normally deleted when you close the file. On some
networks using specific server software, there is a problem with such files
*not* being deleted, but this is not an issue on standalone machines.