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Recover Shortcut Associations-Win 2000

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18 replies

by makitel 2 views

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I am a windows 2000 user. I have recently lost all my shortcut associations, on the desktop, startup, quick launch, and in my programs folder in the start menu. Nothing works

18 replies

by cg it

Sounds like you messed up your user profile stored in documents & settings. So what were you doing when you lost all the shortcuts?

One possible solution is you can recreate the shortcuts by finding the .exe file for the program[s] you want, right click the executable and choose create shortcut. then drag and drop to the desktop.

Another possible solution is you could try loading up the right profile from the user profiles in the advance tab of system properties.

by cg it

if the executable file[s] are disassociated with the program[s] they are intended to run e.g. C:\program files\msword.exe, and running the msword.exe file will not launch msword, you've got a major problem that I don't think can be fixed without a reinstall. you could try a repair install using the CD for the O/S but IMHO backup whatever files [folders] you can from the drive and reinstall.

by yetanotheradmin

If the same thing happened when you created a new user the All users profile may be corrupt. c:\documents and settings\all users
check the shortcuts in the desktop and start menu folders, you may have to re-create them all.

by makitel

No matter what profile I use I get the same results. Since I first wrote this question I have found 2 other problems. The .exe's are disassociated. And nothing is accessible throu the control panel.
I have ran an on-line virus scan through Trend Micro and had no negative findings. I am going to try to do a re-install of my Adaware PRO and see if re-installing is helpful.
As far as knowing if I did anything wrong, I do not. My computer was left on for the weekend. I came in this morning and these issues developed during that time.

by makitel

----------If the same thing happened when you created a new user the All users profile may be corrupt. c:\documents and settings\all users
check the shortcuts in the desktop and start menu folders, you may have to re-create them all.-------------

Does this hold true if .exe's are disassociated in folders on c:\, such as c:\program files\(insert programs foler name here) ?????????

by joseph moore

So, you can't run any EXE file?
Ok try this.
Click Start -> Run, type in COMMAND.COM and click OK
This is the older version of the DOS shell.
Ok, go to C:\WINNT
Next, type in:
copy regedit.exe regedit.com
and hit the Enter key.

That makes a copy of the Regedit program, just with a .COM extension.

Then run REGEDIT.COM

Hopefully, that will open the Regedit program.

Ok, go to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell\open\command
and look at the Default entry. It should equal:
"%1" %*

If it says anything else (and from what you've described, then it will probably say something else), then change it to this, and click OK to save changes.

I would then reboot, log in, and see what happens.

by joseph moore

If the .EXE association for the Open entry in the Registry is missing or wrong or broken, then no .EXE files will run. Some viruses will do this.

This also prevents the Control Panel from loading, since the Control Panel is the program CONTROL.EXE

hope this helps

by makitel

My regeistry value is already

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell\open\command
and look at the Default entry. It should equal:
"%1" %*

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