Shortcut icons not starting Target applications

[Robert Ladd]

Hi, I recently had a hardware problem with my Toshiba laptop which caused
the BLUE SCREEN with the message "windows has been shut down to prevent
damage to your computer".
My operating system is Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.
I was able to reboot after making a hardware fix, then using the "last known
good version" option. But since then I'm having a problem with my shortcut
icons.
When I double-click on the Shortcuts they don't start the target programs
anymore. The icon and the text under the icon show that it was selected (by
highlighting the text and the icon changes to a grayed state), and there is
no error message, but the application doesn't start up. My mouse
doubleclick speed is fine because I can start a couple of programs such as
Recycle Bin and Internet Explorer, and if I right click the Shortcut and
click the properties, then click the Target button the folder the executable
resides in is opened in Explorer and the target executable is highlighted.
When I doubleclick that, the application then starts.
Creating new Shortcuts don't help because I can create them directly from
the executable and they still act the same way. I can go to the Start, All
Programs, doubleclick a program, or go to a program within a sub-group and
doubleclick it and it's also a no-go.
I can still start the applications by getting to the folder the executable
resides in and doubleclicking the executable, but that gets to be real
cumbersome.
It's almost as if there is a flag or switch that is turned off that keeps
the non-system Shortcuts from working. I would like it to be that easy, but
I doubt that it is. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank,

Bob

 

[Elmo]

Hi, I recently had a hardware problem with my Toshiba laptop which caused
the BLUE SCREEN with the message "windows has been shut down to prevent
damage to your computer".
My operating system is Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.
I was able to reboot after making a hardware fix, then using the "last known
good version" option. But since then I'm having a problem with my shortcut
icons.
When I double-click on the Shortcuts they don't start the target programs
anymore. The icon and the text under the icon show that it was selected (by
highlighting the text and the icon changes to a grayed state), and there is
no error message, but the application doesn't start up. My mouse
double-click speed is fine because I can start a couple of programs such as
Recycle Bin and Internet Explorer, and if I right click the Shortcut and
click the properties, then click the Target button the folder the executable
resides in is opened in Explorer and the target executable is highlighted.
When I double-click that, the application then starts.
Creating new Shortcuts don't help because I can create them directly from
the executable and they still act the same way. I can go to the Start, All
Programs, double-click a program, or go to a program within a sub-group and
double-click it and it's also a no-go.
I can still start the applications by getting to the folder the executable
resides in and double-clicking the executable, but that gets to be real
cumbersome.
It's almost as if there is a flag or switch that is turned off that keeps
the non-system Shortcuts from working. I would like it to be that easy, but
I doubt that it is. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank,

Bob

Try the LNK fix listed here:

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

 

[Robert Ladd]

Thanks Joe, but that didn't do the job. I haven't done it yet because this
is my development computer, but I think I may have to reinstall Windows XP.
If I do, will I have to apply the SP2 upgrade and all of the patches too?

Bob

 

[pcbutts1 [MS MVP]]

Try my free Explorer Shell Fix tool. Download it here
http://pcbutts1.com/downloads/tools/tools.htm


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[Elmo]

Thanks Joe, but that didn't do the job. I haven't done it yet because this
is my development computer, but I think I may have to reinstall Windows XP.
If I do, will I have to apply the SP2 upgrade and all of the patches too?

Bob

Yes, all updates will need to be reapplied. Because of that, you might
want to create a slipstreamed CD:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

But first, try these:

"Unable to Start a Program with an .exe File Extension"
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exefile.htm

Click Start, Run, and enter these lines:

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll (Press Enter key)

Click Start, Run, type SFC /SCANNOW, click OK. If any files are damaged
or missing, they'll be replaced. You may need to reboot afterwards so
damaged files will be replaced.

To do a repair install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Robert Ladd]

Joe,

I'm a bit embarrassed, but I'll come clean. When I looked at your first
solution with the file associations I was a bit nervous about applying all
of those "fixes" to my registry. And since I figured that I'd have to do
all of them I just tried to do the "exe" one. Since one of my applications
that I open quite often was an "exe" I figured that if it didn't work for
that one then it would save me from going through all the rest.

Well, it didn't work so I dismissed the rest of them.

When I read this message I tried these 3 things that you suggested:

But first, try these:

"Unable to Start a Program with an .exe File Extension"
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exefile.htm

Click Start, Run, and enter these lines:

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll (Press Enter key)

None of those worked either. The Slipstreamed install and the
XPRepairInstall.htm both looked like I'd be in for an ordeal, so I revisited
your first suggestion. Looking down the list a little more diligently, I
noticed the:

LNK (Shortcut) File Association Fix (Restores Default Shortcut Behavior)

Suddenly it hit me like a load of bricks. The association for the LNK was
broken and that was why when I doubleclicked the Shortcut Icons they weren't
recognized as shortcuts.

When I applied that particular fix it worked like a charm. Thank you very
much for the right answer, and thank you for sticking with me when I ignored
the correct answer.

Also, thanks to all of you that had other suggestions. I appreciate all of
your help.

Bob

 

[Elmo]

Joe,

I'm a bit embarrassed, but I'll come clean. When I looked at your first
solution with the file associations I was a bit nervous about applying all
of those "fixes" to my registry. And since I figured that I'd have to do
all of them I just tried to do the "exe" one. Since one of my applications
that I open quite often was an "exe" I figured that if it didn't work for
that one then it would save me from going through all the rest.

Well, it didn't work so I dismissed the rest of them.

When I read this message I tried these 3 things that you suggested:


None of those worked either. The Slipstreamed install and the
XPRepairInstall.htm both looked like I'd be in for an ordeal, so I revisited
your first suggestion. Looking down the list a little more diligently, I
noticed the:

LNK (Shortcut) File Association Fix (Restores Default Shortcut Behavior)

Suddenly it hit me like a load of bricks. The association for the LNK was
broken and that was why when I doubleclicked the Shortcut Icons they weren't
recognized as shortcuts.

When I applied that particular fix it worked like a charm. Thank you very
much for the right answer, and thank you for sticking with me when I ignored
the correct answer.

Also, thanks to all of you that had other suggestions. I appreciate all of
your help.

Bob

That's great news! And thanks for reporting your success.