Desktop Internet Shortcut Problem (WinXP)

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When I go to any internet web site, say Google for example, and create a shortcut to that site on my desktop, the shortcut no longer works as it used to. Instead I get a window that says “some files can harm your computer…..etc. Do you want to download or save this file.” (Google is a file?) Whatever I click on, I can’t get the shortcut to work. I don’t know what caused this change. I’ve checked every setting I can think of but can’t solve the problem. Any ideas on how to get rid of that window that pops up and how to get my shortcuts working correctly again so that I can go directly to the web site? Thanks.
Robert

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If you right-click one of these shortcuts and select Properties, do you get something that looks like my attachment?

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If you right-click one of these shortcuts and select Properties, do you get something that looks like my attachment?

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Thanks for your reply. The window I get is completely different from your attachment and makes no mention of a virus. It’s the standard (I think) window/warning you get before downloading a file and gives you the option to open or save. Then whatever you click on, the path is not recognized.
Robert

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I think you misunderstood my question. I believe you’re describing the error message window. What I’d like you to do is look at the properties of the shortcut on your desktop to see what the link says – maybe you too could post a screenshot of it, if it’s a weird URL or something.

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I think you misunderstood my question. I believe you’re describing the error message window. What I’d like you to do is look at the properties of the shortcut on your desktop to see what the link says – maybe you too could post a screenshot of it, if it’s a weird URL or something.

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Thanks for your reply. The window I get is completely different from your attachment and makes no mention of a virus. It’s the standard (I think) window/warning you get before downloading a file and gives you the option to open or save. Then whatever you click on, the path is not recognized.
Robert

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the shortcut no longer works as it used to

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This implies that the shortcut at one time worked. Did it ever work or did other shortcuts, previously created, work and now you cannot create a working shortcut ?? Also, how are you creating the shortcuts ?? Are you copying and pasting the URL into the shortcut target window when you create the shortcut ?? As Al said, a screenshot of your problem would be helpful.

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Thanks for your reply. The way that I make my shortcuts is that I go to the web page, right-click and then select Send To Desktop as a shortcut. All of my desktop internet shortcuts worked until yesterday. Yesterday I hooked up with Adelphia cable and then uninstalled my SBC Yahoo browser. (It had two entries on the Add/Remove list, and I think one of them said something about enhanced browsing.) Could that be related to the problem? I will post a screenshot shortly as soon as I can get it — the computer is at my other location and someone has gone for it. As far as I can remember, when I checked the shortcut properties, the window and the URL looked normal, but we’ll know for sure when I get the screenshot. Thanks for your help.
Robert

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[indent]

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The way that I make my shortcuts is that I go to the web page, right-click and then select Send To Desktop as a shortcut.

---

[/indent]
What exactly do you right-click on ??? If you try to use your technique on this page for example, you can’t get a Send to…. option anywhere on the page. Even if you highlight the page address in the Address bar and right-click on it you don’t get a Send to… option. Could it be that you are right-clicking on something on a page that is an executable, html or other file type that can cause problems, and are creating a shortcut to that file on your desktop ???

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You’re right — there is no Send To option on right-click on this page. But there is a Create Shortcut option, and after you click on that a window pops up that says it will put the shortcut on the desktop. It has always worked for me for years — never had a problem until yesterday when my already-in-place shortcuts that I had been using for a long time suddenly developed this problem. I’m not clicking on an executable, html or other file type that can cause problems. Still working on getting the screenshot.
Robert

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Your statement about just hooking up to cable got me to thinking. I don’t know about that browser you WERE using, but do you suppose that the problem is because now, IE doesn’t know that it’s to be opened when you click on a URL type of shortcut? Check Internet Options and see if there is a checkmark in the box that says IE should check to see if it’s the default browser. Also, what happens now if you make a NEW shortcut, rather than try to use one that’s already there?

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Your statement about just hooking up to cable got me to thinking. I don’t know about that browser you WERE using, but do you suppose that the problem is because now, IE doesn’t know that it’s to be opened when you click on a URL type of shortcut? Check Internet Options and see if there is a checkmark in the box that says IE should check to see if it’s the default browser. Also, what happens now if you make a NEW shortcut, rather than try to use one that’s already there?

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That was what I suspected you were using, but wanted you to confirm it. It sounds like the problem is related to your switch to Adelphia, although I can’t imagine why. If it has affected already-in-place shortcuts that have always functioned, and anything new you create doesn’t work then I’d suspect it’s ISP related. If the in-place shortcuts worked and newly created shortcuts were fine until after you removed the Yahoo stuff then it’s likely related to the removal of the Yahoo enhancements. My guess is that it’s an option setting in Adelphia’s software. I’m pretty sure the option to create a shortcut is hardwired into the OS.

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Sorry for the delay. Attached is a snapshot of the Properties window of my shortcut. The next post is a snapshot of the window that pops up when I try to open the shortcut,.
Robert

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Sorry for the delay. Attached is a snapshot of the window that pops up when I try to open the shortcut. Thanks for your help.
Robert

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Gosh, Robert, I’m none the wiser for having seen the graphics. I’ve been thinking that there might be something “strange” in the URL of the shortcut, but it looks OK and the “error” or message windows following are standard Windows fare. I think it has to be related to your switch to Adelphia as Doc surmised. But did you check on the two items in my previous post yet?

As a footnote for your future guidance, there’s a Star Post here on the subject of posting screenshots. You might want to read it to help make the process easier for you in the future..

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Gosh, Robert, I’m none the wiser for having seen the graphics. I’ve been thinking that there might be something “strange” in the URL of the shortcut, but it looks OK and the “error” or message windows following are standard Windows fare. I think it has to be related to your switch to Adelphia as Doc surmised. But did you check on the two items in my previous post yet?

As a footnote for your future guidance, there’s a Star Post here on the subject of posting screenshots. You might want to read it to help make the process easier for you in the future..

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1) Try to fix your shortcut mechanism by going to Windows XP from A-Z Select “S”> Click on Send to Desktop Fix” and run the download which is a series of regedits Kelly has made. If you like, set a Restore Point first in System Restore.
2) Run System File Checker. This will check and if necessary replace corrupt files that might interfere with your Send To mechanism. Directions if needed are Post 338243 First 3 Links.

A couple hints on faster ways to make shortcuts:

1) It is faster with a list of links just to hold down the left click button and drag that link to the desktop and then open it and examine the link. This way you get the shortcut already labeled. With many pages, if you send it to the desktop, you’re going to get a generic label from the site instead of the actual topic. This is also good when you’re collecting shortcuts in a hurry to examine later.

2) You can always put a shortcut on the desktop by dragging the small “e” in the upper left of the IE or whatever browser title bar of the web page.

SMBP

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1) Try to fix your shortcut mechanism by going to Windows XP from A-Z Select “S”> Click on Send to Desktop Fix” and run the download which is a series of regedits Kelly has made. If you like, set a Restore Point first in System Restore.
2) Run System File Checker. This will check and if necessary replace corrupt files that might interfere with your Send To mechanism. Directions if needed are Post 338243 First 3 Links.

A couple hints on faster ways to make shortcuts:

1) It is faster with a list of links just to hold down the left click button and drag that link to the desktop and then open it and examine the link. This way you get the shortcut already labeled. With many pages, if you send it to the desktop, you’re going to get a generic label from the site instead of the actual topic. This is also good when you’re collecting shortcuts in a hurry to examine later.

2) You can always put a shortcut on the desktop by dragging the small “e” in the upper left of the IE or whatever browser title bar of the web page.

SMBP

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Your shortcut was created with errors. Create a new shortcut as follow:

1. Open Internet Explorer and browse to desired webpage, say, google.com
2. Press F6 key on your keyboard. URL in Address bar will be highlighted.
3. Press Ctrl and C keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
4. Press Minimize ( – ) button in upper right corner of Internet Explorer window. Minimize also all other open windows until you see the desktop.
5. Right-click anywhere on the desktop (but not on the icon) and from pop-up menu choose New | Shortcut.
6. When you will see “Create a new shortcut” dialog with a cursor blinking in “Type the location of the item”, press Ctrl and V keys on your keyboard simultaneously. You will see your URL in the box. Click Next.
7. Type the appropriate name for your shortcut and click Finish. Your shortcut is ready.

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Your shortcut was created with errors. Create a new shortcut as follow:

1. Open Internet Explorer and browse to desired webpage, say, google.com
2. Press F6 key on your keyboard. URL in Address bar will be highlighted.
3. Press Ctrl and C keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
4. Press Minimize ( – ) button in upper right corner of Internet Explorer window. Minimize also all other open windows until you see the desktop.
5. Right-click anywhere on the desktop (but not on the icon) and from pop-up menu choose New | Shortcut.
6. When you will see “Create a new shortcut” dialog with a cursor blinking in “Type the location of the item”, press Ctrl and V keys on your keyboard simultaneously. You will see your URL in the box. Click Next.
7. Type the appropriate name for your shortcut and click Finish. Your shortcut is ready.

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Sorry for the delay. Attached is a snapshot of the window that pops up when I try to open the shortcut. Thanks for your help.
Robert

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Like BigAl said…….”Gosh……. !!” From your screenshots, I can’t see anything in the shortcut properties dialogue boxes that would indicate they shouldn’t work. And as Al said, the error messages are standard Windows stuff. But as you point out, a shortcut to an internet address isn’t a suspicious file that might harm your computer and the error message is just plain incorrect, based on the path indicated by the properties window. You’re really left with no place to go. No where to look for a solution to this “problem” that isn’t a problem, but it is.

If it’s any consolation, I have a shortcut to my Zip drive on my Quicklaunch bar. About 6 months ago, it just stopped working. If I left-click on the shortcut I get an error message telling me of a “Problem With Shortcut” that the drive is unavailable and to check that the disk is inserted properly and the resource is available. But if I right-click on the shortcut and choose Open from the menu, the window for the Zip Drive opens normally. I’ve done everything imaginable to that shortcut and NOTHING changes the way it behaves for more than a few clicks. Deleting & replacing, moving out and moving back, switching places with another shortcut, nothing corrects the problem. Moving it to another location (like the desktop) makes it work normally. But if you move it back to or replace it on the Quicklaunch bar it stops functioning again with a left-click. Your problem seems similar. Try right-clicking on the shortcut and selecting Open from the menu. If it opens to the internet address then perhaps we’ve found one of those “bugs”, that Woody is so fond of, in the Windows OS’s.

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Like BigAl said…….”Gosh……. !!” From your screenshots, I can’t see anything in the shortcut properties dialogue boxes that would indicate they shouldn’t work. And as Al said, the error messages are standard Windows stuff. But as you point out, a shortcut to an internet address isn’t a suspicious file that might harm your computer and the error message is just plain incorrect, based on the path indicated by the properties window. You’re really left with no place to go. No where to look for a solution to this “problem” that isn’t a problem, but it is.

If it’s any consolation, I have a shortcut to my Zip drive on my Quicklaunch bar. About 6 months ago, it just stopped working. If I left-click on the shortcut I get an error message telling me of a “Problem With Shortcut” that the drive is unavailable and to check that the disk is inserted properly and the resource is available. But if I right-click on the shortcut and choose Open from the menu, the window for the Zip Drive opens normally. I’ve done everything imaginable to that shortcut and NOTHING changes the way it behaves for more than a few clicks. Deleting & replacing, moving out and moving back, switching places with another shortcut, nothing corrects the problem. Moving it to another location (like the desktop) makes it work normally. But if you move it back to or replace it on the Quicklaunch bar it stops functioning again with a left-click. Your problem seems similar. Try right-clicking on the shortcut and selecting Open from the menu. If it opens to the internet address then perhaps we’ve found one of those “bugs”, that Woody is so fond of, in the Windows OS’s.

Reply | Quote

Sorry for the delay. Attached is a snapshot of the Properties window of my shortcut. The next post is a snapshot of the window that pops up when I try to open the shortcut,.
Robert

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That was what I suspected you were using, but wanted you to confirm it. It sounds like the problem is related to your switch to Adelphia, although I can’t imagine why. If it has affected already-in-place shortcuts that have always functioned, and anything new you create doesn’t work then I’d suspect it’s ISP related. If the in-place shortcuts worked and newly created shortcuts were fine until after you removed the Yahoo stuff then it’s likely related to the removal of the Yahoo enhancements. My guess is that it’s an option setting in Adelphia’s software. I’m pretty sure the option to create a shortcut is hardwired into the OS.

Reply | Quote

You’re right — there is no Send To option on right-click on this page. But there is a Create Shortcut option, and after you click on that a window pops up that says it will put the shortcut on the desktop. It has always worked for me for years — never had a problem until yesterday when my already-in-place shortcuts that I had been using for a long time suddenly developed this problem. I’m not clicking on an executable, html or other file type that can cause problems. Still working on getting the screenshot.
Robert

Reply | Quote

[indent]

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The way that I make my shortcuts is that I go to the web page, right-click and then select Send To Desktop as a shortcut.

---

[/indent]
What exactly do you right-click on ??? If you try to use your technique on this page for example, you can’t get a Send to…. option anywhere on the page. Even if you highlight the page address in the Address bar and right-click on it you don’t get a Send to… option. Could it be that you are right-clicking on something on a page that is an executable, html or other file type that can cause problems, and are creating a shortcut to that file on your desktop ???

Reply | Quote

Thanks for your reply. The way that I make my shortcuts is that I go to the web page, right-click and then select Send To Desktop as a shortcut. All of my desktop internet shortcuts worked until yesterday. Yesterday I hooked up with Adelphia cable and then uninstalled my SBC Yahoo browser. (It had two entries on the Add/Remove list, and I think one of them said something about enhanced browsing.) Could that be related to the problem? I will post a screenshot shortly as soon as I can get it — the computer is at my other location and someone has gone for it. As far as I can remember, when I checked the shortcut properties, the window and the URL looked normal, but we’ll know for sure when I get the screenshot. Thanks for your help.
Robert

Reply | Quote

[indent]

---

the shortcut no longer works as it used to

---

[/indent]
This implies that the shortcut at one time worked. Did it ever work or did other shortcuts, previously created, work and now you cannot create a working shortcut ?? Also, how are you creating the shortcuts ?? Are you copying and pasting the URL into the shortcut target window when you create the shortcut ?? As Al said, a screenshot of your problem would be helpful.

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