start menu items not working

[sam15]

this is so weird. whenever i try and click a program on my start menu
and/or quick launch they don't load. say i click 'windows media
player'. i click it, nothing happens. to get into it i have to right
mouse click 'open'. it's very, very annoying. i need help, please. the
only application that will open the normal way is internet explorer.

i really need help. thanks if you can.

 

[jemdur]

this is so weird. whenever i try and click a program on my start menu
and/or quick launch they don't load. say i click 'windows media
player'. i click it, nothing happens. to get into it i have to right
mouse click 'open'. it's very, very annoying. i need help, please. the
only application that will open the normal way is internet explorer.

i really need help. thanks if you can.

I just got over a problem with all my icon were changed to "LNK" files
and I
could not open anything. Do you have a similiar problem with LNK files
?

 

[Sharon F]

I just got over a problem with all my icon were changed to "LNK" files
and I
could not open anything. Do you have a similiar problem with LNK files

All of the objects in the start menu *should* be LNK files. LNK is the
extension for shortcut files. The programs usually reside in the Program
Files folder. Instead of clicking the .EXE file directly to launch a
program, one can click on a shortcut file stored in the start menu.

 

[Sharon F]

this is so weird. whenever i try and click a program on my start menu
and/or quick launch they don't load. say i click 'windows media
player'. i click it, nothing happens. to get into it i have to right
mouse click 'open'. it's very, very annoying. i need help, please. the
only application that will open the normal way is internet explorer.

i really need help. thanks if you can.

What happens if you create a new shortcut to a program? Does it work or do
the same thing?

Another thing to try: Right click the Start button and select Explore. In
the window that appears, click on Programs in the left column. You should
now see at least a few shortcuts in the right pane. Right click on one of
these so that you can see the right click menu choices. Is "Open" in bold
characters? Use Folder Options> File Types to set Open as the default
action. Try one of your shortcuts again.

If no luck, get a copy of the "LNK (Shortcut) File Association Fix" from
this page: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Follow the directions on that page to use the fix.

NOTE: It wouldn't hurt to run a full system scan with antivirus and
anti-spyware programs for safe measure. Be sure those programs are using
the most recent updates.