Disappearing "Add to shortcuts" command

[Jonathan Sachs]

I'm using Windows XP with SP2. I often find it useful to create
shortcuts in Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) to mark
directories that I know I will revisit.

Lately the " Add to shortcuts" command has been disappearing, making
it impossible for me to do this. When I first open Windows Explorer
it is there, but by the time I get to the directory I want to mark,
it's gone.

I can work around this by creating a shortcut as soon as I open
Windows Explorer, then going to the directory and setting the new
shortcut's target with the Properties box, but that is a major
nuisance.

Does anyone know why the "Add to shortcuts" command is disappearing,
and how to make it stop?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Jonathan,

"Add to shortcuts" is not a standard entry in Windows. Is this option
provided by a third-party program / shell extension?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Jonathan Sachs]

"Add to shortcuts" is not a standard entry in Windows. Is this option
provided by a third-party program / shell extension?

My bad. The menu command is "Add to Favorites," a standard entry for
Internet Explorer and (I presume) also for Windows Explorer.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Jonathan,

I've experienced the problem at times myself, but the cause is not clear.
See if disabling third-party add-ons in IE (impacts Windows Explorer as
well) helps.

If that does not help, I can write a little script for you which adds the
"Add to Favorites" command in the folder context menu.

 

[Jonathan Sachs]

See if disabling third-party add-ons in IE (impacts Windows Explorer as
well) helps.

There are over a dozen of them, and some (e.g., the virus checker) are
basic to my use of IE. Fortunately, IE is not my preferred browser,
so I can do this without great inconvenience. It will take some time
to check all the possibilities, though. I will get back to you if I
test everything and do not find the problem.