Q172053: Restoring .lnk File Associations

Article: Q172053
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): WinNT:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbfile
Last Modified: 09-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you select programs from the Start menu or shortcuts nothing happens, the
"Open with" dialog box is displayed or a specific program runs.

CAUSE
=====

The .lnk association is either missing, incorrect or corrupted. Because all
shortcuts and Program Menu items are files with a .lnk extension. Selecting one
either brings up the "Open with" dialog box, a specific application such as
Notepad.exe or Wordpad.exe or doesn't do anything.

RESOLUTION
==========

You can correct this by either restoring the registry key from another working
computer or manually replacing the registry key.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide
problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft
cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can
be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

To restore the registry key from another computer, perform the following steps:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and select the following subkey:

  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk

2. From the Edit menu, click Delete.

3. On another Windows NT 4.0 computer, start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and
  select the registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk.

4. From the Registry menu, click Save Key.

5. Copy this file to the computer exhibiting the problem or to a floppy disk.

6. On the computer exhibiting the problem, recreate the registry key by
  selecting HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and then from the Edit menu, click Add Key. Type
  .lnk for the key name.

7. Select the new key, click Restore from the Registry menu, and select the file
  from the other computer or floppy disk.

8. Quit Registry Editor and restart the computer. Test a Program menu item or
  shortcut.

To manually enter the information, perform the following steps:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), select the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT subkey,
  and then click Add Key on the Edit menu.

2. In the Key Name box type ".lnk" (without quotation marks), and then click OK.
  Note that you should leave the Class box blank.

3. In the Add Value dialog box, click OK to leave the Value Name blank, and
  click REG_SZ in the Data Type list.

4. In the String Editor box, type "lnkfile" (without quotation marks), and then
  click OK.

5. Select the .lnk key you just re-created under the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT subkey.
  On the Edit menu, click Add Key and then type "ShellNew" (without quotation
  marks). Note that you should leave the Class box blank.

6. Click Add Value on the Edit menu, type "command" (without quotation marks) in
  the Data Name box, click REG_SZ in the Data name box, and then type "RunDLL32
  AppWiz.Cpl,NewLinkHere %1" (without quotation marks) as the string value.

7. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

Additional query words: Howto file types
======================================================================
Keywords          : kbfile 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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