Problem Opening Folder

[mcp6453]

My daughter is fighting a problem on her XP computer. When she double
clicks on a shortcut to a folder on her XP desktop, she gets the
following error message:

The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is correct.

I have researched the problem through Google and have found some ideas,
I am handicapped for a couple of reasons. First, the shortcut is
pointing to a folder on the server, so it is not, per se, an Internet
Shortcut. Second, what is the Internet Shortcut property sheet? Third,
how do I make sure that the "target" is correct?

When she double clicks on the shortcut, it opens in the "search" mode
instead of "open" or "explore". Under Folder Options | File Types | File
Folder | Advanced | Edit File Type, search is listed first, then open,
then explore. Setting open or explore as the default action does not
make any difference, which means we are looking in the wrong place.

Under Folder Options | File Types | Folder | Advanced | Edit File Type,
the options are explore and open. I cannot tell when one is the default.

What is the difference between Folder and File Folder? Moreover, is the
problem with the shortcut instead of the folder?

We tried Doug Knox's reg utility to restore the folder properties to
Windows default, but it did not help.

Where can I look next to continue this troubleshooting process?

 

[Bob I]

Have you tried deleting the shortcut and make a new one? That is usually
the easiest way to fix a broken shortcut.

 

[mcp6453]

I'll have her try that. It does seem like there may be some corruption
going on.

One other question. She was advised to go to Folder Options | File Types
| Folder | Advanced | Edit File Type and add "open" as an Action, along
with "explore". Adding open and setting it as default did not make any
difference. Now, XP will not allow her to delete "open". Why not?

Can someone point to an online resource that explains how the Edit File
Type | Actions work?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Bob I]

I'd advise not messing with those, if it is a shortcut issue. Also there
are two different ones "File folder" and "Folder", "Folder" has Open,
"File folder" does not.

 

[mcp6453]

Whichever one did NOT have it (I'm obviously confused), now has it. She
cannot delete it. Any idea why not?

 

[Bob I]

No idea.

Whichever one did NOT have it (I'm obviously confused), now has it. She
cannot delete it. Any idea why not?

 

[Ray Parrish]

My daughter is fighting a problem on her XP computer. When she double
clicks on a shortcut to a folder on her XP desktop, she gets the
following error message:

The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is correct.

I have researched the problem through Google and have found some ideas,
I am handicapped for a couple of reasons. First, the shortcut is
pointing to a folder on the server, so it is not, per se, an Internet
Shortcut. Second, what is the Internet Shortcut property sheet? Third,
how do I make sure that the "target" is correct?

Te get to the properties sheet right click the shortcut icon and a pop
up menu will come up with "Properties" as the last selection in the
menu. Select Properties and a dialog will pop up showing the properties
of the shortcut. Click the "Find Target" button and a file selection
dialog will open which will allow you to find and re-select the folder
the shortcut was to.

Later, Ray Parrish

 

[Elmo]

Whichever one did NOT have it (I'm obviously confused), now has it. She
cannot delete it. Any idea why not?

The the Lnk, and Folder associations repairs here:

Fix File Associations.
http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Maybe the Directory fix too..

 

[mcp6453]

The the Lnk, and Folder associations repairs here:

Fix File Associations.
http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Maybe the Directory fix too..

I already tried the folder fix from Doug's site. No joy.

The computer is in front me of know, so I can provide better
information. To simplify the diagnosis, I created a new folder on the
desktop. When I double click on it, I get the following error message:

The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the Internet
Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is correct.

When I click on OK, the following message appears:

Unable to open Internet Shortcut "C:\Documents and
Settings\user\Desktop\test".

Why am I getting an Internet Shortcut error when I try to open a folder?
If I right click on the folder and click on Explore, the folder opens in
the explore mode. If click on Search, it opens in the search mode. The
problem only occurs when I select open.

I created a new user to see if the Profile might be corrupt, but I got
the same problem.

Any help you can provide will be sincerely appreciated!

 

[Bob I]

I already tried the folder fix from Doug's site. No joy.

The computer is in front me of know, so I can provide better
information. To simplify the diagnosis, I created a new folder on the
desktop. When I double click on it, I get the following error message:

The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the Internet
Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is correct.

When I click on OK, the following message appears:

Unable to open Internet Shortcut "C:\Documents and
Settings\user\Desktop\test".

Why am I getting an Internet Shortcut error when I try to open a folder?
If I right click on the folder and click on Explore, the folder opens in
the explore mode. If click on Search, it opens in the search mode. The
problem only occurs when I select open.

I created a new user to see if the Profile might be corrupt, but I got
the same problem.

Any help you can provide will be sincerely appreciated!

Get and run the LNK file one. that should fix the shortcuts
http://dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/linkfile_fix.zip

 

[mcp6453]

Get and run the LNK file one. that should fix the shortcuts
http://dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/linkfile_fix.zip

Bob, thanks for sticking with me on this problem and for making
suggestions. Unfortunately, this one did not solve the problem. I am
confident that I installed it correctly.

 

[Bob I]

Bob, thanks for sticking with me on this problem and for making
suggestions. Unfortunately, this one did not solve the problem. I am
confident that I installed it correctly.

There wouldn't happen to be a system restore point for the time period
right before this issue came up?

 

[mcp6453]

There wouldn't happen to be a system restore point for the time period
right before this issue came up?

Bob, that worked. I had hoped to fix the problem to save the work she
had done on Saturday, but having the problem solved is probably worth
re-doing her prior work. (She was updating and configuring the computer,
which was just assigned to her.)

Thanks for your suggestion. Your help is appreciated!

 

[Bob I]

Bob, that worked. I had hoped to fix the problem to save the work she
had done on Saturday, but having the problem solved is probably worth
re-doing her prior work. (She was updating and configuring the computer,
which was just assigned to her.)

Thanks for your suggestion. Your help is appreciated!

You're welcome, yep sometimes we need to evaluate the path of least
resistance. ;-)

 

[windmap]

My daughter is fighting a problem on her XP computer. When she double
clicks on a shortcut to a folder on her XP desktop, she gets the
following error message:

The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is correct.

I have researched the problem through Google and have found some ideas,
I am handicapped for a couple of reasons. First, the shortcut is
pointing to a folder on the server, so it is not, per se, an Internet
Shortcut. Second, what is the Internet Shortcut property sheet? Third,
how do I make sure that the "target" is correct?

When she double clicks on the shortcut, it opens in the "search" mode
instead of "open" or "explore". Under Folder Options | File Types | File
Folder | Advanced | Edit File Type, search is listed first, then open,
then explore. Setting open or explore as the default action does not
make any difference, which means we are looking in the wrong place.

Under Folder Options | File Types | Folder | Advanced | Edit File Type,
the options are explore and open. I cannot tell when one is the default.

What is the difference between Folder and File Folder? Moreover, is the
problem with the shortcut instead of the folder?

We tried Doug Knox's reg utility to restore the folder properties to
Windows default, but it did not help.

Where can I look next to continue this troubleshooting process?

Try this
start computer keep tapping the f8 key this action should take u to
windows advanced options menu.Highlight the LAST GOOD KNOWN
CONFIGURATION by using the up and down arrow key and hit enter.if
this step didnt fix the problem .Again tap the f8 and go to safe mode
see if this happens in safe mode also .if u get the same problem in
safe mode.Perform the disk repair.Go to BIOS change boot sequence to
boot CD/DVD first .Insert windows xp cd boot to cd ,enter recovery
console and type CHKDSK/P once this completes type FIXBOOT and restart
the comp,remove the windows xp cd from the drive .This should resolve
the problem.Also i recommended to perform complete system virus and
spyware scan before doing before performing this steps.