Vista - lnk file association

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?

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?

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?
>
>

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?
>>
>>

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?
> >>
> >>
>
>

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 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?
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>

Anyone got any other suggestions or any idea why none of what is supposed to
work is working? I know I'm not the only one having a problem like this,
there's even someone else posting with the exact same problem on the help
page for the file association fixes(commend #4):
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/

It's really annoying having to track down .exes or having to go through the
properties menu every time I want to start a program.

Have you tried the .reg file merge with User Account Control disabled?

"Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:190ECEEE-1F46-4B28-A01C-E9A49AD24C05@microsoft.com...
> Anyone got any other suggestions or any idea why none of what is supposed
> to
> work is working? I know I'm not the only one having a problem like this,
> there's even someone else posting with the exact same problem on the help
> page for the file association fixes(commend #4):
> http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/
>
> It's really annoying having to track down .exes or having to go through
> the
> properties menu every time I want to start a program.

No luck, restarted, still gives error message. Tried running the process
monitor too, no changes.

"dean-dean" wrote:

> Have you tried the .reg file merge with User Account Control disabled?
>
> "Daemonfyre" <Daemonfyre@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:190ECEEE-1F46-4B28-A01C-E9A49AD24C05@microsoft.com...
> > Anyone got any other suggestions or any idea why none of what is supposed
> > to
> > work is working? I know I'm not the only one having a problem like this,
> > there's even someone else posting with the exact same problem on the help
> > page for the file association fixes(commend #4):
> > http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/
> >
> > It's really annoying having to track down .exes or having to go through
> > the
> > properties menu every time I want to start a program.
>
>