Vista - lnk file association

Could you post the regfile you are trying to apply, or point to where you've
got it? I'd like to try it myself.

Do you have spyware protection tools, uninstall monitors or registry
cleaners running?

Process Explorer
(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sExplorer.mspx)
can list all handles opened by all processes. You can give it a try, and see
if anything references keys mentioned in your reg file.

Process Explorer can kill pretty much any process dead. For example, if you
kill explorer with it, it won't respawn. You can try killing explorer with
it (or whatever you find opens them subkeys) and then apply the reg file
from command line.

Ilia

"Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:106D50EC-0F89-49E7-8CBD-B858636D9A69@microsoft.com...
> The only thing that's showing anything other than those normal results you
> listed is:
> HKCU\Software\Microsoft\CTF\DirectSwitchHotkeys
>
> The result is NO MORE ENTRIES. I check and set it's permissions to my
> account too but still get the same message.
>
> "Ilia Sacson [MS]" wrote:
>
>> Hmm. Well, let's do it the hard way then. Please install Process Monitor
>> from here:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...ssmonitor.mspx.
>> This nice program allows monitoring all file, registry and other
>> activity.
>> Start it up. Then configure it to show registry activity only (the
>> toolbar
>> button that looks like regedit.exe's icon pressed, other two not
>> pressed),
>> and open the reg file. The message should ask you if you really mean to
>> add
>> that stuff to the registry. Do not press anything, go back to Process
>> Monitor, scroll down to where regedit.exe first appears in the Process
>> Name
>> column. Right-click, Include..., Process Name. Now you only see what's
>> regedit doing to the registry. Clear the view by pressing Control+X keys
>> or
>> the little page and erazer button on the toolbar. Now go back to that
>> confirmation dialog and press Yes.
>>
>> Process Monitor should show all the registry operations that regedit
>> tried
>> to do to change the registry according to the reg file. In the Results
>> column, search for anything other than SUCCESS or NAME NOT FOUND or
>> REPARSE
>> or BUFFER OVERFLOW, these are expected. ACCESS DENIED would be good, or
>> something like that. In the Path column, it should mention where exactly
>> the
>> access is denied. Then try setting right permissions on these keys.
>>
>> Ilia
>>
>> "Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:6811B73C-EEC6-4D16-8F24-203C4EA61092@microsoft.com...
>> > Tried in safe mode, no luck. Also tried in safe mode with command
>> > prompt,
>> > still no change. And I've gone through every program that's listed in
>> > the
>> > task manager that would close and stay closed and tried it again, still
>> > no
>> > luck. It just keeps giving me that error message.
>> >
>> > "Ilia Sacson [MS]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Have you tried to do it in safe mode? Do you have any spyware
>> >> protectors/registry watchers running?
>> >> Ilia
>> >>
>> >> "Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:9AFAEBE2-CCE6-47C2-9544-0056CFEC5DD8@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Yes, I went in and verified each item under the key individually,
>> >> > all
>> >> > were
>> >> > set to admin group(which is me, as this is my home comp and I'm the
>> >> > only
>> >> > user) except one that was set to "TrustedInstaller" I set all of
>> >> > them
>> >> > specifically to my profile, rebooted and tried again, no luck, still
>> >> > gives
>> >> > the error message.
>> >> >
>> >> > "Ilia Sacson [MS]" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Daemonfyre,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Have you verified that you have the right to modify these regkeys?
>> >> >> You
>> >> >> may
>> >> >> have to take ownership of the keys your regfile modifies and then
>> >> >> grant
>> >> >> yourself (or your group such as Admins) full access. Apply the
>> >> >> change
>> >> >> recusrively (to the key and all subkeys). The keys are probably
>> >> >> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thanks,
>> >> >> Ilia
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> >> message
>> >> >> news:EECADD30-8E76-40CA-987F-345B8E78B1AF@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> > Long story short, I'm another one of the dozens of people whose
>> >> >> > shortcuts
>> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > start menu files have turned into unassociated .lnk files. I've
>> >> >> > looked
>> >> >> > at
>> >> >> > several other threads and tried the fix that they point to,
>> >> >> > namely
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > .reg
>> >> >> > fix file. However, whenever I try to merge the file I get an
>> >> >> > error
>> >> >> > message
>> >> >> > that reads:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Cannot import C:\lnk_vista.reg: Not all data was successfully
>> >> >> > written
>> >> >> > to
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > registry. Some of the keys are open by the system or other
>> >> >> > processes.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I've tried closing every program in the task manager that will
>> >> >> > stay
>> >> >> > closed
>> >> >> > and it still gives the error message. I've tried moving the file
>> >> >> > from
>> >> >> > C:\
>> >> >> > to
>> >> >> > the desktop, tried running regedit and merging the file through
>> >> >> > that
>> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > no
>> >> >> > luck. Could it have something to do with the fact that I
>> >> >> > manually
>> >> >> > assigned
>> >> >> > an association to the .lnk extension through the Default Programs
>> >> >> > option?
>> >> >> > If
>> >> >> > so then is there any way to dis-associate them so they can be
>> >> >> > properly
>> >> >> > re-associated? Or does anyone know any other way to fix this
>> >> >> > problem?
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>

The link to the file is the one I posted earlier:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/

I downloaded the lnk fix file from there. And I tried the new program you
suggest and I don't see anything that looks to me like it's trying to access
the keys, I made sure any of the Norton stuff that came with the Vista
upgrade was killed and killed Windows Defender, still got the message.
Killed explorer and ran the file through Process Explorer and it still gives
the error message.

Try removing this part:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property
Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"

Ilia

"Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B70EC8CE-60AA-4FB3-8A82-6F7D57B3F8FF@microsoft.com...
> The link to the file is the one I posted earlier:
> http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/
>
> I downloaded the lnk fix file from there. And I tried the new program you
> suggest and I don't see anything that looks to me like it's trying to
> access
> the keys, I made sure any of the Norton stuff that came with the Vista
> upgrade was killed and killed Windows Defender, still got the message.
> Killed explorer and ran the file through Process Explorer and it still
> gives
> the error message.

Yay, progress! Ok, that time it took the file and the changes, no error
message. But all of my lnk icons are still Adobe Reader icons(the last
program I manually assigned the extension to through Default Programs when I
was trying to make certain of what had happened) and still open through it
even after a restart.

"Ilia Sacson [MS]" wrote:

> Try removing this part:
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property
> Page]
> @="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"
>
> Ilia
>
> "Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B70EC8CE-60AA-4FB3-8A82-6F7D57B3F8FF@microsoft.com...
> > The link to the file is the one I posted earlier:
> > http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/
> >
> > I downloaded the lnk fix file from there. And I tried the new program you
> > suggest and I don't see anything that looks to me like it's trying to
> > access
> > the keys, I made sure any of the Norton stuff that came with the Vista
> > upgrade was killed and killed Windows Defender, still got the message.
> > Killed explorer and ran the file through Process Explorer and it still
> > gives
> > the error message.
>
>

If there is a DefaultIcon key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile, delete the
DefaultIcon key.


"Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2101E18F-F331-4360-899C-09155FADFCDA@microsoft.com...
> Yay, progress! Ok, that time it took the file and the changes, no error
> message. But all of my lnk icons are still Adobe Reader icons(the last
> program I manually assigned the extension to through Default Programs when
> I
> was trying to make certain of what had happened) and still open through it
> even after a restart.
>
> "Ilia Sacson [MS]" wrote:
>
>> Try removing this part:
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer
>> Property
>> Page]
>> @="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"
>>
>> Ilia
>>
>> "Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:B70EC8CE-60AA-4FB3-8A82-6F7D57B3F8FF@microsoft.com...
>> > The link to the file is the one I posted earlier:
>> > http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/
>> >
>> > I downloaded the lnk fix file from there. And I tried the new program
>> > you
>> > suggest and I don't see anything that looks to me like it's trying to
>> > access
>> > the keys, I made sure any of the Norton stuff that came with the Vista
>> > upgrade was killed and killed Windows Defender, still got the message.
>> > Killed explorer and ran the file through Process Explorer and it still
>> > gives
>> > the error message.
>>
>>

Nothing like that there, and wouldn't that just fix the icon display? My
real issue is getting the .lnk shortcuts to open the files they are supposed
to be directed at like they are supposed to(IE my Guild Wars link opening
Guild Wars instead of making Adobe Reader try to open the .exe file for
instance).

Sorry, I had understood that your .lnk files were now working, but showing
the wrong icons, from your last post. You may also have to repair .exe file
associations from http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/ . When you
right-click on a .lnk file, and open the target location, does clicking on
the actual .exe file the shortcut points to open Adobe Reader, and does it
have the Adobe Reader icon?

"Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
newsCC6E83F-F750-4270-89B8-D55409E1F16E@microsoft.com...
> Nothing like that there, and wouldn't that just fix the icon display? My
> real issue is getting the .lnk shortcuts to open the files they are
> supposed
> to be directed at like they are supposed to(IE my Guild Wars link opening
> Guild Wars instead of making Adobe Reader try to open the .exe file for
> instance).

No, the .exes themselves open normally. It's just the .lnk files that are
messed up.

"dean-dean" wrote:

> Sorry, I had understood that your .lnk files were now working, but showing
> the wrong icons, from your last post. You may also have to repair .exe file
> associations from http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/ . When you
> right-click on a .lnk file, and open the target location, does clicking on
> the actual .exe file the shortcut points to open Adobe Reader, and does it
> have the Adobe Reader icon?
>
> "Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> newsCC6E83F-F750-4270-89B8-D55409E1F16E@microsoft.com...
> > Nothing like that there, and wouldn't that just fix the icon display? My
> > real issue is getting the .lnk shortcuts to open the files they are
> > supposed
> > to be directed at like they are supposed to(IE my Guild Wars link opening
> > Guild Wars instead of making Adobe Reader try to open the .exe file for
> > instance).
>
>

I think I would try the .exe file association repair from
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/ as well. Somehow, Adobe Reader
is wrongly in the equation registry-wise, but I'm not sure where that is.
If you could, export (by right-clicking on the key) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk
to, say, your desktop and save it as Lnk.reg. Right-click on Lnk.reg, and
choose Edit. Notepad will open; copy all the information and paste it into
your reply, so that we can see exactly what is in that key.

"Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7863B6E8-3501-41E4-8218-07FB96BA2505@microsoft.com...
> No, the .exes themselves open normally. It's just the .lnk files that are
> messed up.
>
> "dean-dean" wrote:
>
>> Sorry, I had understood that your .lnk files were now working, but
>> showing
>> the wrong icons, from your last post. You may also have to repair .exe
>> file
>> associations from http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/ . When
>> you
>> right-click on a .lnk file, and open the target location, does clicking
>> on
>> the actual .exe file the shortcut points to open Adobe Reader, and does
>> it
>> have the Adobe Reader icon?
>>
>> "Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> newsCC6E83F-F750-4270-89B8-D55409E1F16E@microsoft.com...
>> > Nothing like that there, and wouldn't that just fix the icon display?
>> > My
>> > real issue is getting the .lnk shortcuts to open the files they are
>> > supposed
>> > to be directed at like they are supposed to(IE my Guild Wars link
>> > opening
>> > Guild Wars instead of making Adobe Reader try to open the .exe file for
>> > instance).
>>
>>

Exe filefix didn't do anything. Here's the exports from .lnk:


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk]
@="lnkfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{000214EE-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{000214F9-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{00021500-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew]
"Handler"="{ceefea1b-3e29-4ef1-b34c-fec79c4f70af}"
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,\
31,00,36,00,37,00,36,00,39,00,00,00
"ItemName"="@shell32.dll,-30397"
"MenuText"="@shell32.dll,-30318"
"NullFile"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew\Config]
"DontRename"=""



and lnkfile(just in case):


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]
@="Shortcut"
"EditFlags"=dword:00000001
"FriendlyTypeName"="@shell32.dll,-4153"
"IsShortcut"=""
"NeverShowExt"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\CLSID]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu]
@="{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\IconHandler]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property
Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"