How can I fix links to all programs on windows xp - possible registry question?

Question

A child playing with the computer used windows explorer and Tools/Folder Options/File Types , and created a .LNK extension and then removed it. As we know, ".lnk" is reserved for the system, it is the shortcuts on the desktop and wherever else. The result of this caused the .lnk entry in the registry to be emptied. There are no system restore points on this computer. I manually fixed the .lnk entries (it is a standard item in there, lots of typing required) and in fact the shortcuts on the desktop still point to the appropriate programs although they are not displayued as shortcuts (proper icon for each program) but as generic icon that is displayed when windows does not know what a file type is for. They also do not have the little arrow that only shortcuts have on the icon. I show all extensions here, but the extension .lnk is displayed for these shortcuts, instead of being hidden as it always is.I bet there is something simple I have not yet found, but what? another registry entry? I can currently run all programs OK by using start/run. Any attempt to run an existing shortcut results in a dialog that "windows cannot open this file" (does not know what program created it; wants me to tell it) indicating that it is looking in the file types for the .lnk file and can't find it. That is wrong, as the .lnk type is never listed in the file types dialog. Creating a new shortcut results in the same sort of broken function. I sure do not want to have to re-load windows on this. Thanks,

Answer 1

you have thank you to a lot stuff working on your pc at one time. Your CPU and memory are over under pressure a lot that the memory is now utilising stressful rigidity area to function (that's stated as digital memory). you will possibly desire to do some issues. Delete previous courses you do no longer choose for anymore utilising the eliminate application function in the administration panel. next flow into upload-ons then methods in the commencing up menu. locate you disk freshen up and defragment. Run them with the disk freshen up first then the defrag that could take an particularly long term to end. finally click on run under the commencing up menu and press enter a container will arise. type msconfig in that container and press enter. a clean window looks. click on the start up up tab. those are all the courses that are working once you turn on the pc. you may disable all of them different than your anti-virus and your pc would be a lot swifter. The courses will nevertheless artwork yet you will might desire to open them to apply them. the prefer no longer be only working jointly as you do no longer choose for them. This wastes a lot of ram.

Answer 2

Do a web search for reset default file type association. It should explain how to get this back to the way it should be.

Answer 3

insert the windows cd and go to start then run and type sfc /scannow then it should fix all the registires