asked on

windows 7 shortcuts become named *.lnk

Computer with Windows 7 suddenly changes desktop icons that were shortcuts.
New file names are no longer e.g. "Internet Explorer" but, rather, "Internet Explorer.lnk"
File type is no longer Shortcut but .lnk
Creating new shortcuts results in the same thing.
Have not found a solution and it appears this is NOT a file association problem.
Rather, it appears to be how shortcuts are working.

It doesn't matter if the shortcut is to an .exe or to something else like .doc.

John

Shortcuts in Windows 7 *are* .lnk . All of mine say Type of File: Shortcut (.lnk). This is how Windows 7 works. There does not appear to be anything wrong.

.... Thinkpads_User

SOLUTION

dramdrum

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Hassan36

Well this is not a Sudden thing to happen....that is due to virus..... Here is the solution for this problem... I already applied on my computer.... Registry Entries.... Execute them as an administrator....

Regards
Hassan lnk-fix-w7.zip

dramdrum

Contents of that file are pretty much the same as what is posted above.

John

@fmarshall - If you think there is a virus or other malware on your computer, run online Malwarebytes and scan the complete machine. That may get rid of the virues.

After scanning and any repairs, try the registry fix above and see what happens.

... Thinkpads_User

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

hypercube

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Hassan36

it is as same as Dramdrum and my Solution.

hypercube

ASKER

Perhaps both work....

fogelberg

Using regedit, I imported the two files from the Microsoft website indicated in fmarshall's post on 1-2-2013 and it worked great. The OS on the system I had a problem with was Win7 SP1.