The Immortal Shortcut

[Chet]

Hello group,

Strange little thing happening: I have a shortcut that refuses to die.
Original file was viewed on a thumb drive, now the shortcut can't be
eliminated from hard drive. WhenI try to delete it, I get an error message
that says, "This is no longer located in c:\users\(my
name)\appdata\roaming\microsoft\windows\recent. Verify item's location and
try again." I do try again, and again, yet the shortcut can't be found and
can't be deleted. Anyone know how to get rid of it?

thanks

 

[woody]

Download Unlocker :

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Unlocker_d4660.html

Install and use on shortcut.

Woody

 

[Buddha]

Try R-Clicking the Desktop (if this is where the shortcut is) and selecting
Refresh.

I've found that sometimes Desktop items will continue to be displayed even
after being deleted unless you refresh the desktop display.

Buddha

 

[Chet]

Thanks. tried that. Tried Unlocker, too. No joy. The stupid thing just won't
die. Like a nest of cockroaches.

 

[Peter Foldes]

The file is it still on the thumb drive ? If it is then put in the drive and remove
the file to any outside media and then while the drive is still connected then
remove the shortcut and the references in c:\users\(my

 

[Chet]

Thanks for responding. But the error message I get says the item is no
longer in the recent file, and indeed it isn't. I doesn't appear to be
anywhere, except it comes up in the search function. It's like a ghost that
won't go away.

 

[Michael Walraven]

I hesitate to tell you how I got one like that to go away because it was
mostly like magic....

I searched with regedit for the title of the phantom shortcut. Then I
considered where it was (don't remember now) and decided that it could be
deleted. Having deleted it from the registry, it was still there on the
desktop. Tried to delete it from the desktop again and this time it went
away. It was getting me really annoyed so was glad to have it gone.
Unfortunately I cannot remember where it was in the registry. Be careful
when deleting it there.

Michael

 

[Peter Foldes]

What is the size of that shortcut ??

 

[Chet]

Hmm. That's a good question. When the mouse hovers over it, it shows 393
bytes. But when I right-click and open the properties box, it shows zero
bytes. Another mystery. What's it mean?

 

[Opinicus]

Hmm. That's a good question. When the mouse hovers over it, it shows 393
bytes. But when I right-click and open the properties box, it shows zero
bytes. Another mystery. What's it mean?

Hmm. That's a good question. When the mouse hovers over it, it shows 393
bytes. But when I right-click and open the properties box, it shows zero
bytes. Another mystery. What's it mean?

Check thýs out:
http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm

But be very, very careful with this tool if you decide to use it.

Bob
http://www.kanyak.com

 

[Chet]

Thanks for that, Opinicus. But the scan didn't find the problematic
shortcut. It only shows up on a Windows search, and doesn't seem to have a
home otherwise. Weirder and weirder.

 

[Clark]

Thanks for that, Opinicus. But the scan didn't find the problematic
shortcut. It only shows up on a Windows search, and doesn't seem to have
a home otherwise. Weirder and weirder.

You said it was found in search--where, and have you tried deleting it
from there? Can you change the properties to point somewhere else or
rename it to see if it comes back? Could it be in a hidden folder?
Have you checked msconfig.exe to see if it is in the startup tab?

Can you move it to a folder on the desktop or somewhere else? Anything
in TaskManager or Process Explorer related to it?

Clark

 

[Chet]

Thanks for responding. The search indicates it's in the
appdata/microsoft/windows/recent folder, but it's not there when I look.
I've tried repeatedly to delete it from the search box, but I get the error
message I've talked about. Also, I'm unable to move or rename it. I have
hidden folders turned on, since I'm looking in appdata, which is normally
hidden.Msconfig/startup doesn't show it, nor does task manager. is this
bizarre, or what? Honest, I'm not imagining this.

Thanks

 

[Clark]

Thanks for responding. The search indicates it's in the
appdata/microsoft/windows/recent folder, but it's not there when I look.
I've tried repeatedly to delete it from the search box, but I get the
error message I've talked about. Also, I'm unable to move or rename it.
I have hidden folders turned on, since I'm looking in appdata, which is
normally hidden.Msconfig/startup doesn't show it, nor does task manager.
is this bizarre, or what? Honest, I'm not imagining this.

Thanks

Is "recent" a folder or just a list of items. You have done a registry
search to see if it shows up in there? It may just be part of a list
that wasn't removed.

You might look for a way to clear the Recent items list, maybe that will
get rid of it. I think it might be in the Start Menu Properties, or
somewhere in that area.

Clark

 

[Chet]

I cleared the recent folder. Registry search doesn't find the shortcut.
Stranger and stranger, eh?

 

[Peter Foldes]

If the original of that shortcut is on your thumb drive then insert the thumb drive
access the file via that shortcut and then delete. There is a reason why that
shortcut is 393kb. It is associated with the file or program and it needs the
original to be accessible to delete. It is probably not deleting because it is
looking for it's home (prog or file on thumb drive) and now it is in protected mode
as an orphan

 

[Chet]

It says "The requested security information is either unavailable or can't
be displayed." It's like the shortcut isn't there, but it is.