Help -- need to reinstall all vista start menu shortcuts

[tim.england]

Help.

I cleaned up some shortcuts and folders in Start Menu/All Programs. I
saw something called Programs that I didn't see before (and it was
empty), so I deleted that, too. I then emptied the Recycle Bin.

To my shock, I realized that the Programs folder was a shortcut to c:/
ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start/Programs, so now I have lost all
the standard Windows shortcuts that I need -- like Accessories,
Windows SUA, and Administrative Tools (!).

I had done a full backup, but C:/ProgramData was not in the list of
things that gets backed up.

I do not have a Vista install CD, since I purchased the Vista Upgrade
online, and downloaded it.

How in god's name can I recover these important links?

Desperate...

 

[Chad Harris]

Tim--

You don't have a Vista DVD because the company who makes it called MSFT is
gready and they forced the OEM named partner or whomever sold it to you not
to provide it. We will hear this thousands of times until Blackcomb and
then we'll hear it again. MSFT just can't get it into their heads to
provide the Win RE envivonment to its end user customers.

They don't feel committed and Mike Brannigan will jump up to the stage on
cue and say lol that the OEMs are committed. Ain't no one gives a damn who
takes your money if you get the way to use Win RE.

1) Try a restore point or points.
2) Try typing in search shell:name of shorcut <Enter>

CH

 

[BobC]

Help.

I cleaned up some shortcuts and folders in Start Menu/All Programs. I
saw something called Programs that I didn't see before (and it was
empty), so I deleted that, too. I then emptied the Recycle Bin.

To my shock, I realized that the Programs folder was a shortcut to c:/
ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start/Programs, so now I have lost all
the standard Windows shortcuts that I need -- like Accessories,
Windows SUA, and Administrative Tools (!).

I had done a full backup, but C:/ProgramData was not in the list of
things that gets backed up.

I do not have a Vista install CD, since I purchased the Vista Upgrade
online, and downloaded it.

How in god's name can I recover these important links?

Desperate...
'System Restore?

Try that.

 

[Chad Harris]

should have read OEMS aren't committed and that's because MSFT forces them
into a contract not to provide it and neither of the entities making huge
profits from MSFT customers gives a damn about customers recovering. Dell
claims to be providing a Vista DVD when you pay them one to four grand for
their hardware.

CH

 

[tengland]

Try that.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Gentlemen,

I tried doing a system restore. Unfortunately, it looks like the
shortcuts defined in c:/ProgramData/ are not part included (I got an
error trying to restore the previous checkpoint, in any case).

I am re-downloading the Vista Upgrade from Digital Locker/Windows
Marketplace again (should take a number of hours). I hope that when I
launch it again it will give me an option to Repair Existing
Installation and not just tell me that Vista has already been
installed and then quit.

I thought I was doing everything right with the backups and all. Oh
well, learning experience. I just hope that I can eventually figure
out how to get these back -- especially the Administive Tools links...

 

[tengland]

Sorry i can't help you, but i did the EXACT same thing. I ended up
reinstalling because it seemed quicker than manually creating all those
shortcuts again....it was also on a 5 minute old install, so i had
nothing to lose but 25 minutes of my time.

Good luck, you weren't the only one.

It's good to know that even though it's kind of a user-error thing,
I'm not the only user who made that error

I just hope to god that once this Digital Locker redownload finishes I
can launch it and repair...

 

[Guest]

Tim, I just sent to your gmail acct the Vista Start menu with all the
shortcuts, its about 57kb in a zipped folder.

amenx
---------------------

 

[tengland]

Tim, I just sent to your gmail acct the Vista Start menu with all the
shortcuts, its about 57kb in a zipped folder.

amenx
---------------------







- Show quoted text -

amenx,

I got your note and, after first checking things out to make sure it
looked safe, proceeded to copy the shortcuts in the appropriate
place. I now have my Administrative Tools and other links back!

There is one slight glitch -- every time I go to launch anything from
these links I get a Security Warning -- Unknown Publisher. I'll need
to figure out how to fix that up. I also hope to figure out how to
just reinstall the official way to fix it permanantly.

But the most important thing is I can know access everything.

I do not know how to thank you. That was HUGE, and very much
appreciated!

 

[Scott]

Tim--

You don't have a Vista DVD because the company who makes it called MSFT [sic]
gready [sic] they forced the OEM named partner or whomever sold it to you not
to provide it.

Hummmm

Or maybe it's just the OEM that's cheap?

Many do provide it but most don't.

 

[Chad Harris]

I believe y0ou would have gotten them back by typing typing in search
shell:name of shorcut <Enter> faster which you didn't try as far as I can
tell.

CH

 

[Guest]

I fixed mine, and here is what I did. (Vista Business) I right clicked on
computer went to properties then previous versions. Since all of my restore
files were shadowed, I could only go in and grab the files to replace what
has be deleted. Click on the address bar after the C$
Programdata\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu This will take you to a previous
restoration of your program files. Take the file titled "Programs" and right
click and "copy" it. Then paste it in your folder on the C drive titled
Crogramdata\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Should put all the links back from
that particular time. If you have any new links from new software I would
suggest reinstall rather than making your own and putting in the folder.

 

[Guest]

I need help please. I had to completely redo my windows vista and now I dont
have half of the programs I had to begin with. I can't find mcaffee and
office and had to buy a copy of money. where did my programs go. I didn't
know i would loose everything when I redid it.
(e-mail address removed)