.bak extension

[Ron]

I found some files that are copies of either word or html
with a .bak extension. Why are they created? Can I
simply delete them?

 

[Jay Freedman]

I found some files that are copies of either word or html
with a .bak extension. Why are they created? Can I
simply delete them?

Hi Ron,

Word doesn't create files with .bak extensions. If you go to Tools >
Options > Save and check the option for "Always create backup copy",
you'll get files with .wbk extensions. (These aren't real 'backups'
but a copy of the document as it was at the previous save -- see
http://www.gmayor.com/automatically_backup.htm for more).

So if you look at the .bak files and they aren't something you need a
backup of, go ahead and delete them.

 

[Jezebel]

A lot of applications (but not Word) use this extension for back-up files.
Usually there'll be a file of the same name but different extension -- this
may tell you what they are.On my machine they appear all to be Symantec or
system files of the sort I'm inclined to leave well alone.

How do you know yours are copies of Word or HTML documents?

 

[Ron]

Thanks Jay and Jezebel

I found these files in a folder I created as a local site
for my web site created by NAMO Web Editor. The files
appear in Windows Explorer and when I double-clicked, the
dialogue box said that the file could not be opened by
Windows and wanted to know which program created them.
When I looked at the files in NAMO, these bak files did
not appear. I am tempted to simply ignore them but still
wonder how they got there.

Ron