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Internet shortcuts give error message.

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8 replies

by fallingrock

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(Windows XP SP2) I generally used IE 6 and then began switching to Firefox occasionally as my browser (both kept updated). Meanwhile a problem came up ... I could not shut down windows or reboot until I manually ended a "IE Explorer Not Responding" dialog warning 2-3 times. I corrected this annoyance by making Firefox my default browser. I am not sure that this has relevance to my current question, but it preceded the current problem. Also I have run Registry Mechanic without repairing the following topic question:

I have made Firefox my default browser. I customarily copy URLs to my desktop as shortcuts. Now, every time I click on one of these browser shortcuts I get an Warning note "Windows cannot find "URL name here". Make sure you typed it correctly and try again....". The properties box shows the correctly typed URL (which was created by dragging from the URL line). Immediately after the Warning box displays, the browser opens anyway and to the correct URL! Only the browser shortcuts behave this way, shortcuts to disk contents open without the warning as normal.

How can I fix the problem of the bogus warning occurring ever time I click a browser-URL shortcut?

8 replies

by magic alex

Not really a solution but a different option, rather than cluttering your desktop with links why not create bookmarks instead?

by older mycroft

By 'dragging' the URL from your browser and placing it as a shortcut on your desktop, you are ending up with a logic problem.

The desktop shortcut, by it's very nature, is a shortcut aimed at your internal computer system.

What you are experiencing is your system looking inwardly initially, and reporting that the URL does not exist inside your computer. This warning is perhaps rather badly worded but is 100% accurate.

Rather than commit the shortcut to the desktop, why not just create a bookmark within the browser. After all, the browser's initial search path is ALWAYS to look to the outside world.

THAT is what you want. :)

by fallingrock

First, thanks for your reply.

Second, items placed on the desktop are referenced in the file C:Documents and Settings/User/Desktop. Thus, the computer is looking "inward" even though the item it is looking for is pointing "outword".

Third, a URL shortcut placed on the desktop is not an abberant or unusual thing. to wit: look at the "Properties"...it is clearly identified as a Web Document of the file type "Internet Document" with the Locatin I described above and with the full URL address included.

Fourth, these facts show that it is a legitimate use of shortcuts.

Fifth, starting the browser from a destop short cut uses the same mechanism, exactly. A desktop icon shortcuts the process and opens the browser at the URL page in one step.

Sixth, by contrast, how many steps does it take to use Bookmarks? Open browser, open bookmarks, navigate bookmark folders, search for desired bookmark, click on it. A bookmark and a desktop shortcut are identical objects, they are just placed in different folders and accessed differently.

Seventh, I've used this cluttered desktop method for quick and immediate access to volumes, folders, files, applications, and/or URLs for 15 years on at lease 15 Windows computers (and Macs) and on the current Win Pro SP2 for two years without a single problem.

Eigth, thus my question? Why am I now getting a location error for such useful, pretty, and quickdraw dessktop shortcuts to browser URLs?

Clues: Since all other types of shortcuts work as normal, and since only the desktop copy of the URL shortcuts give the location error, but not the file they point to in the Desktop folder, the problem seems related to something else gone awry (perhaps the browser setting). Especially since the error the warning describes is patently false and the action succeeds immediately after the error box occurs.

Still looking for a fix so I can enjoy my beautifully organized and efficiently cluttered desktop array of shortcuts without the winannoyance of a false error ding.

Look out for Falling Rock. Thanks.

by bizzo

If it's not opening up IE or Firefox, then it doesn't think it's a URL.

Is it failing on all your shortcuts?

Do you have an example of one that it's failing on? It might be trying to pass the URL as a parameter to a program that doesn't exist.

by fallingrock

Like I said...

The problem seemed to originate sometime after I set Firefox as the default browser.

Clicking or opening a desktop shortcut pointing to a URL does open Firefox at the correct URL, BUT this is preceded by a warning box saying that the file cannot be found.

The problem is that the bogus warning box (bogus because the action does work immediately thereafter) is a bore, a bother, a winannoyance, and probably is bodes a more general problem of this sort lurking in my future!

Only desktop shortcuts pointing to a URL exhibit this bogus error warning. All other shortcuts work as usual.

Here is an example: http://www.vote.com/

Keep looking for Falling Rock. Thanks

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