.lnk corruption "This is not a valid shortcut"

[Clive]

Hello,

I've run into a problem with my Windows XP and I've searched the web and
the newsgroups for a solution but I have yet to find one.

The current problem is that every single .lnk file shows the default
windows icon, and when right clicking, the Shortcut tab is all grayed out
with Target Type: "This is not a valid shortcut"

It is similar to

http://groups-beta.google.com/group...his+is+not+a+valid+shortcut"#b2a483fb6a016fad

but not quite.

When i say every .lnk file, I mean the ones found in the start menu, and
every single other link found within my computer.

The actual .lnk files are still fine, they still contain the data that
links them to their propper path, it's just that when clicking on them,
nothing happens.

I've used avast antivirus as well as http://www.free-av.com/ and neither
have reported that my computer has any virus.
I've used Ad-aware, spybot, and cwshreader.exe to find any other malicious
programs but there have been none that have been the cause of this current
problem.

Interestingly, when installing spybot it came up with the warning

"CoCreateInstance failed; code 0x80040111"

when trying to create all the .lnk files in the start menu (such as Spybot
- search & destroy.lnk)

When I try to manually create a shortcut, is says "Unable to create
shortcut"

I've tried doing a system restore but that did not solve the problem.
I've run TweakUI.exe to rebuild icons but this had no effect.
I've run SFC /SCANNOW but that didn't find anything out of the ordinary.

The one solution I did find, was when I run

chkdsk /f c:

and I ask it to run next time windows boots, then all my .lnk files are
working again.
The only problem is, that next time I boot up, the problem comes back
again.

Is there any way of getting the computer to chkdsk /f c: as it shuts down
without me having to manually say "Y" to the question?

If I am forced to install windows over the top, what's the best way to
keep most of my program links in the registry?
Can i copy the registry file, and import it once windows has re-installed?

Thanks for reading this far
Clive

 

[SG]

Hi,

Try Doug's site.....
http://dougknox.com/

In the right hand window, click Win XP Fixes

Scroll down to "File Association Fixes" and click that.

Now look for....
LNK (Shortcut) File Association Fix (Restores Default Shortcut Behavior)

All the best,

 

[Clive]

Thankyou for your response.

I did find this one in google's database an I did try the LNK and EXE file
association fix but from what I remember it did not solve my problem.

But thankyou for offering the solution!

A funny thing happened to me about 10 minutes ago. My computer just
decided to reset itself. That is, go from me moving my mouse, to seeing
the BIOS boot up screen.

When Windows came back on, my lnk associations were still all in tact.

I'll do a bit more research into this, if not shutting down my computer
properly is a solution to this problem then it's the best thing I've got
so far.

 

[clive]

Before running the lnk registration fix I looked at the changes it was
going to make. It all seemed to be in my registration already.
Unfortunately.

I've found that pressing the reset button doesn't keep my .lnk files
working unfortunately. That one reboot seemed to have been a lucky one.

I have found out that while in safe mode, the lnk files always work
after each reboot (as to be expected right!)

Unfortunately the same can't be said about normal boot mode.

So it would seem that the lnk files are either being broken on boot, or
not being set up properly.

 

[SG]

Clive,

Not sure what could be causing you this problem, some sort of Spyware maybe.
As a crutch you could create a folder on your C: drive called Lnkfix and
place the File Association Fix "reg" file from Doug's site in it. Add a new
String Value under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run with
the /s switch and this would install the fix upon each boot without any
prompt.

All the best,

 

[Clive]

When I put this into the Registry, each time windows boots up it says
something like "Would you like to add this to the registry" and I have
to click yes. Unfortuately it asks after the damage seems to have
already been done and none of the links work.

I found out today that if I run

chkdsk c: /f

before I shut down as described earlier, but during bootup cancel the
scan, then the computer actually boots up properly with the lnk files
working properly!

Booting without chkdsk stops lnk files from working.
Booting with chkdsk, but cancelling it (ie, it doing bugger all),
keeps the lnk files working.

If I scanned my computer with Ad-aware, and spybot, what other
cleaning software should I try?

I'm starting to get the impression that a re-install over the top
would be the only fix to this problem. Thankfully I have all my
programs on a seperate drive, so hopefully I won't need to re-install
everything.

I'll be sure to create daily backups of my c: from now on though.

 

[Kelly]

Are you using Zazaa light?

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

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

 

[clive]

If you mean Kazza lite, then no.
I'm not sure what Zazza light is sorry.

 

[SG]

Clive,

Give MSAS a try, although still in BETA it works pretty well.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

All the best,

 

[clive]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys. After trying out MSAS I decided
that the only thing left was to re-install windows.

I got install CD with service pack 2 already on there and installed it.

It was actually completely painless, all my programs and stuff are all
the same.

Cheers for Microsoft for making the installer keep everything exactly
the way it is, but somehow fixing my small problem

 

[markwheeler]

did you find your answer?

I'm trying to fix my daughter's pc. The last time this happened, it appeared to be spyware 'nsvsvc.exe' (delfin promulgate adware), and I was able to remove the picsvr directory from windows\system32 and references thru regedit.

Anyway, I can't fix it this time. Can you help?

She's got windows xp pro. I've also tried spybot and the lastest release of adaware. There is no virus present according to AVG.

Thanx,
Mark

 

[foundhound]

One fix for ths problem

I ran across a similar issue ( "not valid shortcut" ), but not all my links, just some of them. The issue was a permissions one. Fixed up the permissions and viola! problem solved. It occured when I used administrator to organize links for regular users. Won't help the OP, but could be useful for someone else.