I was trying to launch winamp v5 and it was not responding. I removed the program and re-install it.

I used my machine for quite a while before turning it off.

Everything was fine up to that point.

When I tried to open my computer again, all my desktop file extensions have changed to lnk. I checked the programs menu, and all programs and files have changed to the lnk extension.

What could have happened?

If I try to rename the file and changed the extension to exe and launch the file, it says not a valid win32 application.

I tried to run a virus scan to determine if my computer was infected by a virus or malware. It found 16 infections and I deleted the infected file. I rebooted my computer but all the programs on the desktop and programs menu have still the lnk extension.

How do I repair the file?

I tried a tweak UI to repair the association but to no avail.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance and have a nice day,
Dante

Normally the software icons on the desktop are just shortcuts to the actual files. That's true for the entries in START--PROGRAMS also. They all will have a .lnk extension. So I don't think those extensions are the problem.

What happens when you click on one of the icons to start the software?

When you click the icons, it does not work or launch the program.

When you right click the icons and go to properties, the file type under the general tab is a Lnk File instead of an application file.

It used to be an application file but now it all changed into lnk file. So even if you rename the file it will not changed the file extension or revert back to an application file.

It's weird because all the files found on my desktop and programs menu have a .lnk extension.

I was hoping that there are other solutions other than reformatting my hard drive and re-installing windows 98.

The programs are still working but to launch them via the desktop and programs menu icons, it will not work. So I how do I repair the file association?

Any help will also be appreciated.

Thank you,
Dante

Dante, Go to the link below and scroll down to "REPAIRING ASSOCIATION FOR .LNK (SHORTCUT) FILES" and download, unzip and run the .reg file fix. It's good practice to first back up your registry prior to running the fix.

lnk extension association fix

Tufenuf

Thanks a lot Tufenuf.

It solved my problem and repaired all the association files.

Great!

Have a nice day,
Dante

Dante, Glad to see that the problem has been corrected & Thanks for posting back to let us know.

Tufenuf

Good job Tufenuf :)

The fix you have provided is for those who use W95 and W98. What if one is using winXP? I ahve the same problem and hence my query. Grateful for your reply. Thanks and regards

You should probably post your question in the XP forum. It's more likely you'd find a solution there.

jnulu, For the Windows XP LNK Fix see Response Number 2 in the thread at the link below.

LNK File Association Fix Windows XP

Tufenuf