Vista - Game Shortcut Links in Games Explorer Do Not Work

Information

If you click on any game shortcut link in the Games Explorer window and it does not work or you get the error: This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel. , then this will show you how to fix this. For missing game shortcuts, you will just need to create and copy a new shortcut into the Games Explorer window.

NOTE

This usually happens when the XP method of deleting the IsShortcut registry value for .lnk files (Shortcuts), to remove or change the shortcut arrow overlay icon, is used in Vista by mistake. For a safe Vista method, see: How to Remove or Change the Shortcut Arrow and Name in Vista

Tip

Even though the game shortcuts will not work in Games Explorer, you usually can still open the game from a shortcut of it from another location.

• How to Fix the Games Explorer Link in the Vista Start Menu
• Cannot Rename or Move a File or Folder in Vista Fix
• How to Remove or Change the Shortcut Arrow and Name in Vista
• How to Restore Missing Default Start Menu Shortcuts in Vista
• How to Fix Favorite Links Empty in Vista Windows Explorer

NOTE

This restores all of the .lnk (shortcuts) default associations in Vista.

1. Click on the download button below to download the Shortcut_lnk_Fix.reg file.



2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

3. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.

4. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.

5. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop) if you like.

NOTE

This only restores the missing default IsShortcut registry value for .lnk files (Shortcuts).

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
NOTE: The first letter of lnkfile is a L.

5. In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and String Value. (See screenshot above)

6. Type IsShortcut and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.