Find broken shortcuts

[JA D]

Using XP home on Pavillion 541c w/ athelon 2200+
HP recently restored my computer and I decided not to reload Norton since I
couldn't stop it from automatically accessing the internet.
My computer now runs faster. I have found alternate ways of doing most of
what Norton did (e.g.,AVG for antivirus, XP's defrag program) except:

I need a way to find " broken registry items" and "broken shortcuts" (I am
referring to shortcuts within my systemand not internet links)
Are there freeware or low cost shareware utilities that will let me do these
checks and delete or repair broken items? If not is there a reasonably
priced, nonintrusive utility program someone can recommend.?
Thanks

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I use both of these programs and both are free.
MS has a link checker that's free, but I can't remember what it's called.

Empty Temp Folders can find broken shortcuts (.lnk files) on your harddisk,
so you can delete or fix them.
http://www.danish-shareware.dk/soft/emptemp/index.html

EasyCleaner is a small program which searches Windows' registry for entries
that are pointing nowhere. EasyCleaner also lets you delete all kinds of
unnecessary files like temps, backups etc.
Finds invalid registry entries
Finds all invalid shortcuts {doesn't offer to fix}
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm