All shortcuts have lost their targets...

[DMoll]

All shortcuts on desktop and anywhere else no longer start the program they are linked to. The "Open with..." dialog box is displayed. The icons have reverted to the standard plain icon that Windows shows when a shortcut target does not exist(Windows symbol on blank paper with top corner folded over). If you select the correct program from the Open With box it will run but the link is not remembered.

If you start the program from explorer it will run OK.

This is happening for all users.

Have googled for this but can't find any information, hope someone can help.

 

[htmlman]

Right click on the desktop icon for the program>properties>see if the target is still directed to the place where the program is.

 

[DMoll]

No it does not - it does not even have a "Shortcut" tab anymore. It is as if it does not recognise a shortcut element and is treating it as a file type it does not recognise.

 

[htmlman]

Sounds like a registry corruption or ad ware problems. Have you scanned with an ad ware program to see if there is something changing the settings? If nothing is found with ad ware and virus scans then try Sfc /scannow in the run line to see if one of the protected system files is the problem. Have your installation CD handy.

 

[DMoll]

Still no good, I will have to reload Windows I suppose...

No adware etc.

 

[sydspirit2]

DMoll:
Try this thread, this helped me with a similar issue. Check the link in bcastner's post.

thread616-869020