Vista - Start Menu Fails to Launch Certain Apps

Hello,

Not a good computer day.

I've noticed since yesterday, that if I click on the Start button, and then
click on some application icons, they do NOT launch (Word, Acrobat, iTunes),
but other applications do launch (Adobe Bridge, Quicken 2007, Music
Collector).

However, if I click on Start>>All Programs>>Microsoft Office>>Word, it comes
right up.

I have removed the non-working icons from the list, gone the "All Programs"
route again a couple times, and that readds the icon to the Start menu.
Clicking on it there still fails to launch the application. Of note,
continually clicking on it moves the application from the bottom of the list
to the top, but still it does not launch.

Does anyone know what has caused this, and more importantly, how I can fix
it? I would prefer not to reinstall the entire OS and reinstall all my
applications if I can avoid it.

Thank you,

Keith

Your shortcuts all appear to be what are called "Windows Installer"
shortcuts. They're different than a regular program shortcut, for example,
looking at its Properties. You will see that the Target field, Open File
Location button, and Change Icon button are all greyed out. The context
menues are slightly different as well. Yet the extension for both "Regular"
and "Windows Installer" shortcuts are both .lnk. I've noted when Adobe
Reader is installed, it puts a Regular shortcut to its program on the
Desktop, and a Windows Installer shortcut In the Start Menu. The icons for
the Adobe Reader shortcuts are actually from here:

C:\Windows\Installer\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A81000000003}\SC_Reader.exe.

Anyway, here's more about all that:
How Windows Installer Shortcuts Work
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/243630 ,which has a dead link, but I think
this what it's trying to show you:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa369516.aspx , which may be more
than you want to know...

So, regarding your problem, first I would ask if the C:\Windows\Installer
folder looks right. Does it appear to have some alphanumerically named
folders, along with .msi files? Have you used any "cleaners" that might
have removed files from
C:\Users\(YOU)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Installer
or Installer entries in the registry?

"sylvaticus" <sylvaticus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:272AEFBD-1B9F-47DD-96B1-6D756A029BB3@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> Not a good computer day.
>
> I've noticed since yesterday, that if I click on the Start button, and
> then
> click on some application icons, they do NOT launch (Word, Acrobat,
> iTunes),
> but other applications do launch (Adobe Bridge, Quicken 2007, Music
> Collector).
>
> However, if I click on Start>>All Programs>>Microsoft Office>>Word, it
> comes
> right up.
>
> I have removed the non-working icons from the list, gone the "All
> Programs"
> route again a couple times, and that readds the icon to the Start menu.
> Clicking on it there still fails to launch the application. Of note,
> continually clicking on it moves the application from the bottom of the
> list
> to the top, but still it does not launch.
>
> Does anyone know what has caused this, and more importantly, how I can fix
> it? I would prefer not to reinstall the entire OS and reinstall all my
> applications if I can avoid it.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Keith

Dean,

Thank you for responding. I spent over two hours on the phone with MS today
and they still weren't able to fix the problem, though we did not notice what
you have guessed: I checked the properties of the icons, and you're correct
about certain fields and buttons being greyed out.

I looked at the reference links you provide, but I'm afraid if there was
anything helpful to me in them, I missed.

I opened Explorer, but I do not have a c:\windows\installer folder.
I do have the other directory you mention, and it has six folders with that
odd, long, hexidecimal naming convention, but if I should so something with
them, it is unclear to me.

Also, I'm not sure what I should look for in the Registry, or what I should
do once I find it.

Now that you mention, I did use some kind of a cleaning utility, and it's
possible that it did remove something it shouldn't have. I uninstalled it
because it was removing other things I wanted to save (like recent docs on
the MS Word menu).

While I was on the phone with MS Support, the tech had me uninstall and
reinstall iTunes, but that didn't fix the problem for iTunes. I would think
that if this were an installer (?) problem, that should have fixed it?

I'm beginning to think my next step is to reformat my hard drives and
reinstall Vista and everything else (UGH!).

Again my thanks for your help. You've clearly brought me a step closer....
If what I said makes any sense, do you have a suggestion for the next step?

If anyone is willing to chat over the phone, I'm also happy to call (I have
VoIP, so long distance in the US isn't a problem).

Regards,

Keith

"dean-dean" wrote:

> Your shortcuts all appear to be what are called "Windows Installer"
> shortcuts. They're different than a regular program shortcut, for example,
> looking at its Properties. You will see that the Target field, Open File
> Location button, and Change Icon button are all greyed out. The context
> menues are slightly different as well. Yet the extension for both "Regular"
> and "Windows Installer" shortcuts are both .lnk. I've noted when Adobe
> Reader is installed, it puts a Regular shortcut to its program on the
> Desktop, and a Windows Installer shortcut In the Start Menu. The icons for
> the Adobe Reader shortcuts are actually from here:
>
> C:\Windows\Installer\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A81000000003}\SC_Reader.exe.
>
> Anyway, here's more about all that:
> How Windows Installer Shortcuts Work
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/243630 ,which has a dead link, but I think
> this what it's trying to show you:
> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa369516.aspx , which may be more
> than you want to know...
>
> So, regarding your problem, first I would ask if the C:\Windows\Installer
> folder looks right. Does it appear to have some alphanumerically named
> folders, along with .msi files? Have you used any "cleaners" that might
> have removed files from
> C:\Users\(YOU)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Installer
> or Installer entries in the registry?
>
> "sylvaticus" <sylvaticus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:272AEFBD-1B9F-47DD-96B1-6D756A029BB3@microsoft.com...
> > Hello,
> >
> > Not a good computer day.
> >
> > I've noticed since yesterday, that if I click on the Start button, and
> > then
> > click on some application icons, they do NOT launch (Word, Acrobat,
> > iTunes),
> > but other applications do launch (Adobe Bridge, Quicken 2007, Music
> > Collector).
> >
> > However, if I click on Start>>All Programs>>Microsoft Office>>Word, it
> > comes
> > right up.
> >
> > I have removed the non-working icons from the list, gone the "All
> > Programs"
> > route again a couple times, and that readds the icon to the Start menu.
> > Clicking on it there still fails to launch the application. Of note,
> > continually clicking on it moves the application from the bottom of the
> > list
> > to the top, but still it does not launch.
> >
> > Does anyone know what has caused this, and more importantly, how I can fix
> > it? I would prefer not to reinstall the entire OS and reinstall all my
> > applications if I can avoid it.
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > Keith
>
>

Hi,

See "Method 2" here:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

#12 in the "Symptoms" section addresses this problem ("Unable to launch applications from the recent programs list in the Windows Vista Start menu."). Some users have indicated that "Method 2" helped them isolate the problem.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"sylvaticus" <sylvaticus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:272AEFBD-1B9F-47DD-96B1-6D756A029BB3@microsoft.com...
Hello,

Not a good computer day.

I've noticed since yesterday, that if I click on the Start button, and then
click on some application icons, they do NOT launch (Word, Acrobat, iTunes),
but other applications do launch (Adobe Bridge, Quicken 2007, Music
Collector).

However, if I click on Start>>All Programs>>Microsoft Office>>Word, it comes
right up.

I have removed the non-working icons from the list, gone the "All Programs"
route again a couple times, and that readds the icon to the Start menu.
Clicking on it there still fails to launch the application. Of note,
continually clicking on it moves the application from the bottom of the list
to the top, but still it does not launch.

Does anyone know what has caused this, and more importantly, how I can fix
it? I would prefer not to reinstall the entire OS and reinstall all my
applications if I can avoid it.

Thank you,

Keith

OMG THANK YOU!!!!

I ran the .exe and sorted on "Type" so all the "Context Menu" entries were
together. I didn't have that many and all but a few were Microsoft. I got it
on my second try!

I do have a couple follow-up questions, if I might?

1. I left the rogue context menu disabled, but was still able to launch the
application. To what extent does this Context Menu interfere with my
application? Is the Context Menu here just the ??thing?? that allows me to
right-click outside of the application and apply some function of the
application to the object outside (say, a pic found in Explorer I want to
catalog? The rogue is Portfolio Extensis to catalog my images and graphics).
If that's the case I'll leave it disabled. I wouldn't use that ability much
anyway, and they are working on a Vista upgrade which will hopefully fix this
issue.

2. If you read dean-dean's explanation (see above), that is still the case.
So, I assume that some applications, like Word, OneNote, Acrobat
Professional, and iTunes--the (only?) applications afffected--are not able to
be run as administrator and that they aren't supposed to have the full six
tabs on the Properties menu and we're not supposed to edit those fields?

Thank you so much again!!!! I am thrilled, and I am going to call MS Support
and let them know this!

Regards,

Keith

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> See "Method 2" here:
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm
>
> #12 in the "Symptoms" section addresses this problem ("Unable to launch applications from the recent programs list in the Windows Vista Start menu."). Some users have indicated that "Method 2" helped them isolate the problem.
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
> Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "sylvaticus" <sylvaticus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:272AEFBD-1B9F-47DD-96B1-6D756A029BB3@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> Not a good computer day.
>
> I've noticed since yesterday, that if I click on the Start button, and then
> click on some application icons, they do NOT launch (Word, Acrobat, iTunes),
> but other applications do launch (Adobe Bridge, Quicken 2007, Music
> Collector).
>
> However, if I click on Start>>All Programs>>Microsoft Office>>Word, it comes
> right up.
>
> I have removed the non-working icons from the list, gone the "All Programs"
> route again a couple times, and that readds the icon to the Start menu.
> Clicking on it there still fails to launch the application. Of note,
> continually clicking on it moves the application from the bottom of the list
> to the top, but still it does not launch.
>
> Does anyone know what has caused this, and more importantly, how I can fix
> it? I would prefer not to reinstall the entire OS and reinstall all my
> applications if I can avoid it.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Keith
>

You're welcome Keith.

>> To what extent does this Context Menu interfere with my application?

Context menu don't interfere with the application itself. You're just disabling the right-click functionality offerred by that particular program, without disabling/removing the program itself.

>> we're not supposed to edit those fields?

Yes. That's normal with Windows Installer shortcuts.

INFO: How Windows Installer Shortcuts Work:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/243630

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"sylvaticus" <sylvaticus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3EC81549-3EE5-48C0-AA3D-6DB1B42A04D2@microsoft.com...
OMG THANK YOU!!!!

I ran the .exe and sorted on "Type" so all the "Context Menu" entries were
together. I didn't have that many and all but a few were Microsoft. I got it
on my second try!

I do have a couple follow-up questions, if I might?

1. I left the rogue context menu disabled, but was still able to launch the
application. To what extent does this Context Menu interfere with my
application? Is the Context Menu here just the ??thing?? that allows me to
right-click outside of the application and apply some function of the
application to the object outside (say, a pic found in Explorer I want to
catalog? The rogue is Portfolio Extensis to catalog my images and graphics).
If that's the case I'll leave it disabled. I wouldn't use that ability much
anyway, and they are working on a Vista upgrade which will hopefully fix this
issue.

2. If you read dean-dean's explanation (see above), that is still the case.
So, I assume that some applications, like Word, OneNote, Acrobat
Professional, and iTunes--the (only?) applications afffected--are not able to
be run as administrator and that they aren't supposed to have the full six
tabs on the Properties menu and we're not supposed to edit those fields?

Thank you so much again!!!! I am thrilled, and I am going to call MS Support
and let them know this!

Regards,

Keith

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> See "Method 2" here:
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm
>
> #12 in the "Symptoms" section addresses this problem ("Unable to launch applications from the recent programs list in the Windows Vista Start menu."). Some users have indicated that "Method 2" helped them isolate the problem.
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
> Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "sylvaticus" <sylvaticus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:272AEFBD-1B9F-47DD-96B1-6D756A029BB3@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> Not a good computer day.
>
> I've noticed since yesterday, that if I click on the Start button, and then
> click on some application icons, they do NOT launch (Word, Acrobat, iTunes),
> but other applications do launch (Adobe Bridge, Quicken 2007, Music
> Collector).
>
> However, if I click on Start>>All Programs>>Microsoft Office>>Word, it comes
> right up.
>
> I have removed the non-working icons from the list, gone the "All Programs"
> route again a couple times, and that readds the icon to the Start menu.
> Clicking on it there still fails to launch the application. Of note,
> continually clicking on it moves the application from the bottom of the list
> to the top, but still it does not launch.
>
> Does anyone know what has caused this, and more importantly, how I can fix
> it? I would prefer not to reinstall the entire OS and reinstall all my
> applications if I can avoid it.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Keith
>

Removing Portfolio Extensis' ability to add an item to the context menu
shouldn't affect the program's ability to run. In fact, you may want to
check that program's Options/Preferences/Tools to see if it has the choice
to turn off its shell extension(s).

Sometimes the extensions are obvious, sometimes not. An
obvious extension is a when a program adds an item to the right-click
context menu (which list varies depending on what you are right-clicking).
Some of these 3rd Party extensions work fine, some do not. An example of a
not so obvious shell extension is when a program adds thumbnail preview
capabilities to certain file types, putting it on a collision course with
Explorer's thumbnails creation.

Yes, Windows Installer shortcuts will have different context menu
capabilities than regular shortcuts (e.g., there's no Run as Administrator
or Open File Location)), and their Properties will look different (the
Target field, Open File Location button, and Change Icon button are all
grayed out). This is
normal.

"sylvaticus" <sylvaticus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3EC81549-3EE5-48C0-AA3D-6DB1B42A04D2@microsoft.com...
> OMG THANK YOU!!!!
>
> I ran the .exe and sorted on "Type" so all the "Context Menu" entries were
> together. I didn't have that many and all but a few were Microsoft. I got
> it
> on my second try!
>
> I do have a couple follow-up questions, if I might?
>
> 1. I left the rogue context menu disabled, but was still able to launch
> the
> application. To what extent does this Context Menu interfere with my
> application? Is the Context Menu here just the ??thing?? that allows me to
> right-click outside of the application and apply some function of the
> application to the object outside (say, a pic found in Explorer I want to
> catalog? The rogue is Portfolio Extensis to catalog my images and
> graphics).
> If that's the case I'll leave it disabled. I wouldn't use that ability
> much
> anyway, and they are working on a Vista upgrade which will hopefully fix
> this
> issue.
>
> 2. If you read dean-dean's explanation (see above), that is still the
> case.
> So, I assume that some applications, like Word, OneNote, Acrobat
> Professional, and iTunes--the (only?) applications afffected--are not able
> to
> be run as administrator and that they aren't supposed to have the full six
> tabs on the Properties menu and we're not supposed to edit those fields?
>
> Thank you so much again!!!! I am thrilled, and I am going to call MS
> Support
> and let them know this!
>
> Regards,
>
> Keith
>
> "Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> See "Method 2" here:
>> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm
>>
>> #12 in the "Symptoms" section addresses this problem ("Unable to launch
>> applications from the recent programs list in the Windows Vista Start
>> menu."). Some users have indicated that "Method 2" helped them isolate
>> the problem.
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
>> Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>>
>>
>> "sylvaticus" <sylvaticus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:272AEFBD-1B9F-47DD-96B1-6D756A029BB3@microsoft.com...
>> Hello,
>>
>> Not a good computer day.
>>
>> I've noticed since yesterday, that if I click on the Start button, and
>> then
>> click on some application icons, they do NOT launch (Word, Acrobat,
>> iTunes),
>> but other applications do launch (Adobe Bridge, Quicken 2007, Music
>> Collector).
>>
>> However, if I click on Start>>All Programs>>Microsoft Office>>Word, it
>> comes
>> right up.
>>
>> I have removed the non-working icons from the list, gone the "All
>> Programs"
>> route again a couple times, and that readds the icon to the Start menu.
>> Clicking on it there still fails to launch the application. Of note,
>> continually clicking on it moves the application from the bottom of the
>> list
>> to the top, but still it does not launch.
>>
>> Does anyone know what has caused this, and more importantly, how I can
>> fix
>> it? I would prefer not to reinstall the entire OS and reinstall all my
>> applications if I can avoid it.
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Keith
>>