Vista - Shortcut Arrow

**Brink**

How to Remove or Change the Shortcut Arrow and Name in Vista

Information

This will show you how to remove, restore, or change the Shortcut Arrow on shortcuts. You will also see how to enable or disable the Shortcut name extension when new shortcuts are created.

NOTE

If you accidentally used a XP method of doing this by removing or renaming the IsShortCut registry, then the shortcuts in Favorite Links, Media Center, and in the Games Explorer disappear or will not work anymore. Vista uses this value to track links, lots of programs and features that use links will not work correctly like the ones above. You can use this program below to fix them by restoring the shortcut arrow, then you can make any changes you like afterwards.

WARNING

Removing the shortcut arrow from shortcut icons can make it hard to tell which files are shortcuts or not. This can lead to you accidentally deleting the actual file instead of just a shortcut to it.

RELATED LINKS:

METHOD ONE:

Through the Registry

NOTE

This will allow you to only remove or restore the shortcut arrow on all shortcuts old and new.

1. Click on the Download button below to download the
Remove_Restore_Shortcut_Arrow.zip file.

2. To Remove the Shortcut Arrow -
A) Open the ZIP file (step 1), and extract the Blank.ico file, and either the 32-bit or 64-bit Remove_Shortcut_Arrow.reg file for your Vista version to the desktop.
NOTE: To see if your Vista is a 32-bit or 64-bit version, open the Start Menu and right click on Computer and click on Properties. Under System Type, you will see what version of Vista you have.

B) Right click on the Blank.ico file and click on Properties.

C) Under the General tab, click on the Unblock button if there. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If the Unblock button is not there, then the file is already unblocked. Continue on to step D below.

D) Copy and Paste the Blank.ico into the C:\Windows folder, then click on Continue and Continue to approve the copy.

E) Right click on the 32-bit or 64-bit Remove_Shortcut_Arrow.reg file for your Vista version and click on Merge, then click on Continue, Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

F) Go to step 4.

3. To Restore the Shortcut Arrow -
A) Open the ZIP file (step 1), and extract the Restore_Shortcut_Arrow.reg file to the desktop.

B) Right click on the Restore_Shortcut_Arrow.reg file and click on Merge, then click on Continue, Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

C) In the C:\Windows folder, right click on the Blank.ico file and click on Delete, Continue, and Continue.
NOTE: This is for when you have used step 2 above to remove the shortcut arrow previously.

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

5. You can now delete the downloaded files on your desktop if you like.

METHOD TWO:

With a Program

1. Download and install the 32 bit or 64 bit Frameworkx program Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager by clicking on the DOWNLOAD button below.
FxVisor32 for 32-bit Vista:

FxVisor64 for 64-bit Vista:

2. Right click on the program's shortcut and click on Run as administrator.

3. Click on Allow to continue.

4. To Change or Remove the Arrow for All Shortcuts -
A) Select (dot) the arrow option you want for the shortcut arrow. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you selected Custom Arrow, then click on Select to navigate to and choose a ICO (icon) file you have downloaded to use.

5. To Remove the "Shortcut" Name from All Shortcuts -
A) Check the box to also remove the - Shortcut name extension for new shortcuts that are created.

6. Click on Apply.

7. Click on Yes to log off to apply the changes. (See screenshot below)

8. Log back on and your done.

That's it,
Shawn

**Brink** · 10-25-2007

Tutorial has been updated to reflect the changes to the new 2.0 version of the Frameworkx Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager program.

10-24-2007

Shawn

HydropilloW · 11-12-2007

plain and simple

thanks for this one,

**Brink** · 11-12-2007

Your welcome HydropilloW,

Welcome to the forum.

Shawn

Leo Labron · 01-14-2008

I tried that but I got an error message. It looks like this:

(sorry it is very long

)

---

Code:

 
See the end of this message for details on invoking 
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.
 
************** Exception Text **************
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified
at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
at VistaArrowGone.Form1.btApply_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
 
 
************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
FxVisor
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Frameworkx/Vista%20Shortcut%20Manager/FxVisor.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
 
************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.
 
For example:
 
<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>
 
When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

**Brink** · 01-14-2008

Hi Leo Labron,

Did you use the correct 32 bit version of the program for your 32 bit Vista?

It looks like something is conflicting with the program.

**Arakai** · 02-08-2008

erm excuse me I have the same problem too can help me pls??
mine is a 32bit vista home basic
i've just uninstalled TweakVI and when i was uninstalling - the last part said that do you want to delete the registry thing something something.. i think that was the cause of this error.. can you help me pls?

**Brink** · 02-08-2008

Hi Arakai,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Thank you for giving a possible cause for this. I can only recommend for you to do a System Restore to a restore point dated before the problem to see if can undo the problem.

System Restore - How to

If that does not help, then you could do a Repair install, instead of a reinstall. This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep your user account files, settings, and programs.

Repair Install For Vista

Shawn

**Bare Foot Kid** · 04-02-2008

Hi Brink

Am I correct in assuming that if I run option two above
it will remove all the shortcut arrows?

Thanks for your reply Shawn.

Later

Ted

**Brink** · 04-03-2008

Hi Ted,

Option Two has been removed. It causes the links in the Start menu's Game button menu to not work and have to have the shortcuts be recreated again. You can restore them by adding the shortcut arrow back.

Using the program above instead does not mess these up when removing the shortcut arrows though.

Shawn

10-25-2007
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Shortcut Arrow Tutorial has been updated to reflect the changes to the new 2.0 version of the Frameworkx Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager program. 10-24-2007 Shawn
My System Specs

11-12-2007
HydropilloW Vista x64 1 posts	Re: Shortcut Arrow plain and simple thanks for this one,
My System Specs

11-12-2007
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Shortcut Arrow Your welcome HydropilloW, Welcome to the forum. Shawn
My System Specs

01-14-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Shortcut Arrow Hi Leo Labron, Did you use the correct 32 bit version of the program for your 32 bit Vista? It looks like something is conflicting with the program.
My System Specs

02-08-2008
Arakai 32bit Vista Extreme Edition R2 14 posts	Re: Shortcut Arrow erm excuse me I have the same problem too can help me pls?? mine is a 32bit vista home basic i've just uninstalled TweakVI and when i was uninstalling - the last part said that do you want to delete the registry thing something something.. i think that was the cause of this error.. can you help me pls?
My System Specs

02-08-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Shortcut Arrow Hi Arakai, Welcome to Vista Forums. Thank you for giving a possible cause for this. I can only recommend for you to do a System Restore to a restore point dated before the problem to see if can undo the problem. System Restore - How to If that does not help, then you could do a Repair install, instead of a reinstall. This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep your user account files, settings, and programs. Repair Install For Vista Shawn
My System Specs

04-02-2008
Bare Foot Kid Vista 64-bit Ultimate Win7 64-bit Ultimate XP SP3 32-bit Pro 2,126 posts	Re: Shortcut Arrow Hi Brink Am I correct in assuming that if I run option two above it will remove all the shortcut arrows? Thanks for your reply Shawn. Later Ted
My System Specs

04-03-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Shortcut Arrow Hi Ted, Option Two has been removed. It causes the links in the Start menu's Game button menu to not work and have to have the shortcuts be recreated again. You can restore them by adding the shortcut arrow back. Using the program above instead does not mess these up when removing the shortcut arrows though. Shawn
My System Specs

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