Opening .lnk files (shortcuts) opens the file in Notepad

[Andrew]

Opening any Windows shortcut (.lnk files) from Everything will open the .lnk file in Windows Notepad rather than resolve the target of the shortcut and open it instead.

To reproduce:

Search for a program that has a shortcut to it, then open the shortcut.

[Nug]

Just tried this and my shortcuts work fine. Do shortcuts in Windows open in notepad as well or do they resolve the target?

[Andrew]

Shortcuts launched from Windows Explorer resolve just fine.

[alex]

Shortcuts work fine on my computer.

You can use procmon.exe trace this procedure, and find what's happening.

[Andrew]

Great idea!

Code: Select all

10:07:23.5169407 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\Drive\shellex\FolderExtensions	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Enumerate Sub Keys	0.0000190	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.5170427 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\Drive\shellex\FolderExtensions	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000187	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.5171067 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\Drive\shellex\FolderExtensions\{fbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9}	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Query Value	0.0000204	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.5172148 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\Drive\shellex\FolderExtensions\{fbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9}	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000198	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.5387946 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{AEB6717E-7E19-11D0-97EE-00C04FD91972}\InProcServer32	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Query Value	0.0000374	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.5389611 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{AEB6717E-7E19-11d0-97EE-00C04FD91972}\InProcServer32	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000243	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.5390458 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{AEB6717E-7E19-11d0-97EE-00C04FD91972}\InProcServer32	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000226	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.5395117 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\.lnk	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Query Value	0.0000229	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.5737024 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\.lnk	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000173	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6650643 PM	Everything.exe	896	QueryOpen	C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Calculator.lnk:Zone.Identifier	NAME NOT FOUND		0.0000394	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6657091 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\.lnk	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000164	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6658004 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\.lnk	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000159	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6659136 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\lnkfile\CurVer	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Query Value	0.0000120	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6659298 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCR\lnkfile\CurVer	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Query Value	0.0000131	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6661150 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCR\lnkfile\Shell	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000170	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6661759 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\lnkfile\Shell\open	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000126	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6661924 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCR\lnkfile\Shell\open	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000137	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6662452 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCR\lnkfile\Shell	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000139	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6662843 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCR\lnkfile\Shell	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000137	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6663745 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\SystemFileAssociations\.lnk	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000176	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6663960 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCR\SystemFileAssociations\.lnk	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000313	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6664673 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\.lnk	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Query Value	0.0000131	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup
10:07:23.6665472 PM	Everything.exe	896	RegOpenKey	HKCU\Software\Classes\.lnk	NAME NOT FOUND	Desired Access: Maximum Allowed	0.0000145	C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe	Everything	"C:\Program Files\Everything\Everything.exe" -startup

Seems the lnk extension handling keys in the HKCU and HKCR hives were missing for some reason. All better now!

[javad_ft]

I have the same problem. How can I solve this?
(I'm on WinXP.)

[therube]

I have no knowledge of this site, but I would try Option 1: http://malwaretips.com/threads/how-to-f ... ror.10825/

[javad_ft]

Thanks "therube". That fixed it.

(Note to other people who have the same problem: You must restart your computer after installing the .reg file for changes to take effect.)

[javad_ft]

It's weird.It doesn't work again! And installing the .reg fix doesn't fix it.