.anf files

Had your computer crash on you, or a website shows wrong, or your printer went dead on you? Come on in...

Moderator: Crew

Post Reply
User avatar
eMTe
Cyberflaneur
Posts: 6990
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 23:08
Location: Cracow

.anf files

Post by eMTe »

Every (put randomly chosen number) of days/months I can find several, mysterious .anf files on my C disk. Sometimes there's one, sometimes there are five. I dont know when they are created, since I use folder shortcuts and I rarely visit C:\ directory. They are usually about slightly over 1 Mb in size. I tried to search web for info, but Ive found different explanations for this abbreviation, together with very vague and cofusing info.
User avatar
Chroelle
Admin emeritus
Posts: 9870
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:19
Location: Location, location...
Contact:

Post by Chroelle »

Do you use a program called Acutenotes? That is the entry I found with the most plausible explanation... Why it sends the files there I do not know. My workplace has some weird extensions sent to its C-drive too, and we cant really figure out what it is.
Currently testing Life version 2.9 (With added second child)
(Beta testing in progress)

www.paed-it.dk - My blog in Danish

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
--Mark Twain
User avatar
Zyx
Pretender to the throne
Posts: 1907
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 20:48
Location: Helsinki
Contact:

Post by Zyx »

First, I'll rule out viruses/malware, because I assume that's already checked.

So, my guess is that those files are temporary files left over by some application. (Yes, I'm being Captain Obvious here.)

My main argument is that C:\ is guaranteed to exist on any Windows computer (and is user-writeable), so our lazy programmer thought that would be a perfect place to write them to. The other is the odd extension, which probably doesn't mean anything to anyone else but the programmer (If I had to guess, the **f stands for File... Try to work out if you've any games/applications that are made by or are named AN).

Trying to open the (most likely) binary file in a hex editor and hunting down strings could help solve the mystery, but otherwise it looks like those files shouldn't be there, because no-one else has noticed them – or the extension is generated randomly.
Do you has what it takes to join the Homestarmy? The guts? The determination? The five bucks? Join today!
User avatar
eMTe
Cyberflaneur
Posts: 6990
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 23:08
Location: Cracow

Post by eMTe »

Viruses/malware is not an option. My compy is cleaned on daily basis.

I also feel that these are some leftovers. What process leaves them there is a mystery. I dont think I'll grab hex editor, since I dont like downloading programs for one use and these anfies arent a serious problem. They just grow sometimes, like mushrooms. :P
"As you have noticed over the years, we are not angry people." (itebygur)
User avatar
Scythe
Winner of CWF review contest!
Posts: 3165
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:59
Location: Nova

Post by Scythe »

God, I hate .sqm files...
User avatar
eMTe
Cyberflaneur
Posts: 6990
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 23:08
Location: Cracow

Post by eMTe »

Anfies may have sth to do with my extensive usage of Screenshot Pilot. One of the possible explanations Ive found.
"As you have noticed over the years, we are not angry people." (itebygur)
User avatar
Pater Alf
The Steel Spine of GameHunters
Posts: 7649
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 23:09

Post by Pater Alf »

Might be possible. I just realised that there are .anf in my diectory C: too. And when I look at the names it is very likely that they were created by the Screenshot Pilot (which I use as well)...
User avatar
eMTe
Cyberflaneur
Posts: 6990
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 23:08
Location: Cracow

Post by eMTe »

Annotation Pilot Documents. :D
"As you have noticed over the years, we are not angry people." (itebygur)
User avatar
Chroelle
Admin emeritus
Posts: 9870
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:19
Location: Location, location...
Contact:

Post by Chroelle »

That doesn't abreviate to anf???
Currently testing Life version 2.9 (With added second child)
(Beta testing in progress)

www.paed-it.dk - My blog in Danish

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
--Mark Twain
User avatar
eMTe
Cyberflaneur
Posts: 6990
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 23:08
Location: Cracow

Post by eMTe »

That was the answer to my own question from first post. I solved the mystery. :D
"As you have noticed over the years, we are not angry people." (itebygur)
User avatar
Zyx
Pretender to the throne
Posts: 1907
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 20:48
Location: Helsinki
Contact:

Post by Zyx »

Chroelle wrote:That doesn't abreviate to anf???
Of course it does, ANnotation pilot document File... :twisted:
Do you has what it takes to join the Homestarmy? The guts? The determination? The five bucks? Join today!
Post Reply