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Weird Excel file appeared and cannot be deleted, moved, renamed or opened

I have Microsoft Office 2004 on my 2008 Macbook. I'm running the most updated version of Snow Leopard. I just noticed a new Excel file on my desktop that I did not create. It is titled "AEBF4B00". These are the steps I have taken to try and figure out what it is/how to get rid of it.

I tried to delete it, but I get an error message that says "The item “AEBF4B00” can’t be moved to the Trash because it can’t be deleted."

I then tried to click Get Info, but nothing happens.

I also tried to rename the file but got an error message that says "An unexpected error occurred (error code -8058)."

I can't even move it to a different place on my desktop.

Does anyone know what it is and how to get rid of it? Thanks in advance!

2008 MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 20, 2011 9:06 PM

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27 replies

Mar 20, 2011 11:25 PM in response to Purplehiddledog

Launch the Terminal app in /Utilities, copy & paste in this command into the window that pops up, and hit the return key:

*sudo rm -f ~/Desktop/AEBF4B00*

when the Password: prompt pops up, carefully enter your admin password, because noting will show up in the window, and hit the return key. When the normal prompt (usually the $ sign), quit the Terminal app. That should get rid of it.

For info on the file, post to http://www.officeformac.com/ProductForums/ or http://www.officeformachelp.com/2010/10/help-reloaded-officeformachelp-com-goes- live/

Mar 21, 2011 8:05 AM in response to baltwo

Thank you for the suggestion. I followed your instructions exactly, but the file is still on my desktop and everything else I posted about it is still true and I get the same error messages. Now when I try to Get Info on the file, I get a popup, but the information is about my desktop. It is like my computer does not even recognize the file is there.

After I followed your instructions, I tried it again and nothing happens and I don't even get to the point where I can enter my password. I hit the "return" key and I just get another prompt line.

I will post this in the other forums you suggestion, but in the meantime, do you or anyone else have any other suggestions?

Apr 28, 2011 4:08 PM in response to Purplehiddledog

I had the same problem, but with a Final Draft file (.fdr)

The actual way to get rid of the file is to follow baltwo's steps:


Launch the Terminal app in /Utilities, copy & paste this command into the window that pops up:


sudo rm -f ~/Desktop/FILENAME


Then change FILENAME to your exact filename plus extension. For you, it was "AEBF4B00", for me it was "Lear.fdr"

Then hit the return key:


when the Password: prompt pops up, carefully enter your admin password, because nothing will show up in the window, and hit the return key. When the normal prompt pops up (usually the $ sign with username), quit the Terminal app.


THEN you have to restart your computer for the change to take place.

That's the final step.


I just wanted to post this in case someone else has the same problem.

Clearing my trash and rebooting did not work.

Sudo removing the file and rebooting DID.


Since you did it in that order, it appeared the trash/reboot solution worked, but if you have this trouble again, i want you to know the real reason it went away in the first place.

Sep 22, 2011 12:59 PM in response to Purplehiddledog

Hi. This problem is breeding like mad on my mac. I will re-boot shortly and check to see if the 10 weird-excel-icons-than-won't-go-away actually do go away. But can someone tell me what they are and if there's a way of preventing them appear? It seems while I am working in an Excel 2011 document, they simply appear. If I had a PC I would assume they are visible temp files - but I know better....

Sep 23, 2011 3:44 PM in response to janefromvirum

The ultimate answer is to lose Office!


This problem appears to have been around for quite some time, certainly since Office 2004 as far as I can tell searching the forums.


Restarting appears to be the only solution. One contributor says he had to use the Terminal sudo rm command to get rid of them.


However, as that needs a restart afterwards anyway to take effect, that could be an anomaly. It seems pretty certain the problem lies with the Office package, not with the Mac.


I'll stick with iWork. 😉

Jan 4, 2012 1:30 PM in response to noondaywitch

Let me add my two cents.


OS X 10.7.2 (11C74) Early 2011 MBP

Office 2011/Excel 14.1.3 (110805)


I'll set the stage, because this may get confusing...


I'm a recent convert from Windows. So, all but one of my Excel (.xlsx) files were originally created in either Office 2007 or 2010 (may or may not be important - don't know). On my dekstop I have two .xslx files - see the attached - 529.xlsx was created on my Windows machine and w.xlsx was created on the Mac. Notice the icon difference; I don't understand that and who knows if it's relevant or not.


Anyway, here's what I've noticed...


  1. 529.xslx (the Windows file) - editing this file never creates the "phantom" dekstop file.
  2. w.xlsx (the Mac file) - editing this file will create the phantom file if I have not first opened 529.xslx in the same Excel session. IOW... Open Excel... Open w.xlsx... Save w.xlsx... Wham! There's the phantom.
  3. w.xlsx - editing this file will not create the phantom if I first edit 529.xlsx. IOW... Open Excel... Open 529.xlsx... Open w.xlsx... Save w.xlsx... No phantom file created.


Does that make sense?


User uploaded file

Weird Excel file appeared and cannot be deleted, moved, renamed or opened

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