disappeared desktop shortcut AND actual IEXPLORE.EXE file !?

[Guest]

Hi all,

The iexplore.exe shortcut on my desktop just suddenly disappeared
(honest!). I looked in Program Files\Internet Explorer and IEXPLORE.EXE
cannot be *seen* but if I try to rename a copy of it, I get told it already
exists (as if it really is there)!

Also, an MSoffice shortcut button to the same place finds it ok. "Find
Target" opens a Windows Explorer window which still doesn't show it!

Any ideas what's happened to my desktop shortcut and why the actual EXE has
suddenly gone invisible ?

(brw, I checked the Folder Options say Show Hidden Files/Folders in case it
had developed some kind of cloaking device!)

Thanks, Gerry )

 

[ras]

If you still have a shortcut in Start | All Programs you can simply
right-click and 'Create a shortcut (to desktop)' from there. Otherwise
another easy way is to open IE to your homepage, select File | Send |
Shortcut to Desktop.

 

[Kelly]

This behavior started after doing or running....? That asked, have you
ran/installed the Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware beta?

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Guest]

Hi Ras, that's great - thanks for your help - it also helped me with
another problem too!

It seems that where MSpaint used to run happily in c:\I386, it nows runs in
c:\windows\system32. Nobody told me this but I suppose some update or other
must have updated most of my system BUT not checked for shortcuts (eg Office
toolbar!) to it, which was still pointing to I386 and stopped working!

Anyway, now I'm a happy bunny coz it's working again and I've manually
'updated' my Office button shortcut. Thanks, Gerry )

 

[David Candy]

It shouldn't have been pointing to i386 in the first place.

 

[Guest]

Um That's exactly what I would have asked but ... sorry, I don't know
that I noticed it immediately so I don't know for sure what I was running
when it actually disappeared (
Following Ras's idea (previous post-reply), I recreated a desktop shortcut
based on info I had in an Office button shortcut and that seems to work ok
BUT weirdly, it's pointing to "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\iexplore.exe" but if i go there, it doesn't show up i.e. it's still
invisible/cloaked !

MS AntiSpyware beta - erm, wot? Sorry, haven't heard of it. I've got
AutoUpdate on; would it tell me or do I need to get it some other way ?

Thanks, Gerry )