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XP Pro Desktop Shortcuts broken..

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Name: jdouglaswhite
Date: November 9, 2004 at 11:35:33 Pacific
OS: XP Pro SP1
CPU/Ram: P4 2.8/512MB
Comment:

Greetings all,

I've got a user who is no longer able to launch programs from his desktop shortcuts to them. When you attempt to launch one it turns kind of transparent or greyed out and does nothing (returns to normal icon look upon trying a different shortcut and the newly tried one goes transparent). The built in shortcuts (My Comp., My Docs, etc.) work fine and I am able to launch programs directly from the .exe or from start-run without any hangups. Pretty strange - I've never run into this before and google doesn't turn up anything.
I ran a full AV scan with the latest definitions, the PC is definitely spayware/adware free - very clean (~4 things in msconfig - startup, no odd processes, ~30 processes running). I also tried using a different user account and experienced the same issue. I just tried it in safe-mode also and had the same result. I could try a to run an XP repair but if there is a fix out there I'd like to know it.

Thanks in advance for any help and/or suggestions,
J. Douglas White




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Response Number 1
Name: per
Date: November 9, 2004 at 11:45:12 Pacific
Reply:

Google to tweakuixp. It has an icon repair function.

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


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Response Number 2
Name: jdouglaswhite
Date: November 9, 2004 at 13:38:52 Pacific
Reply:

I ran the tweakui repair icons function but the issue persists.
Thanks for the suggestion,

Doug

Blame Bill...


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Response Number 3
Name: per
Date: November 9, 2004 at 13:44:53 Pacific
Reply:

Did you try a system restore?

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


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Response Number 4
Name: jdouglaswhite
Date: November 9, 2004 at 14:27:37 Pacific
Reply:

No, I haven't taken that route yet though I certainly could. I was hoping to find a fix rather than have to take semi-drastic action. I realize sys restore isn't very drastic though, so I suppose I'll give it a shot.

Doug

Blame Bill...


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Response Number 5
Name: per
Date: November 9, 2004 at 14:32:45 Pacific
Reply:

You might take a look at dougknox.com. He has a bunch of fixes. Also theeldergeek.com.

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


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Response Number 6
Name: ABE3K
Date: November 9, 2004 at 14:46:10 Pacific
Reply:

Did the user install any security programs recently ??



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Response Number 7
Name: jdouglaswhite
Date: November 9, 2004 at 15:54:34 Pacific
Reply:

ABE3K: No, the only software he's installed recently is some medical video viewing deal called 'the dynamic spine' that I sure hope wouldn't cause anything like this.

Thanks per, I will certainly persue an answer from those sites.

Please comment if you have any ideas anyone!

Thanks folks,

Doug

Blame Bill...


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Response Number 8
Name: per
Date: November 9, 2004 at 18:23:56 Pacific
Reply:

I am going to try to send you a fix that may work at your gmail addy. Let me know if it works.

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


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Response Number 9
Name: per
Date: November 9, 2004 at 21:21:12 Pacific
Reply:

Have tried to send the fix to gmail 2 ways. It won't accept it. Send me a valid email addy and will send it tomorrow. Send to 747gabe@gmail.com. Not a gmail addy but another addy.

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


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Response Number 10
Name: per
Date: November 10, 2004 at 09:03:01 Pacific
Reply:

Try this. go to #195, rt side. http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


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Response Number 11
Name: jdouglaswhite
Date: November 10, 2004 at 10:16:25 Pacific
Reply:

Well I got both of those files but haven't had a chance to try them yet as the user is out of his office at the moment. I'll give them a try soon though and report back.
Thanks again for you help.
Doug

maybe gmail doesn't like .reg attachments?

Blame Bill...


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Response Number 12
Name: per
Date: November 10, 2004 at 10:22:14 Pacific
Reply:

I have had problems on gmail with exe and reg files. I guess it is to preclude virus problems.

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


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Response Number 13
Name: jdouglaswhite
Date: November 10, 2004 at 11:42:00 Pacific
Reply:

No Dice =\
No change after the regfix. The .vbs from kellys-korner threw an error (line 51) - I took a look at the script but I'm not much of a coder.
Thanks for trying!
Any more ideas? I'm getting close to just backing up his data and ghosting the drive with a fresh image..

Doug

Blame Bill...


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Response Number 14
Name: per
Date: November 10, 2004 at 11:51:36 Pacific
Reply:

No, I am out of ideas, altitude and airspeed all at the same time.:) Hope it all works out. Have a good day.

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


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Response Number 15
Name: jdouglaswhite
Date: November 10, 2004 at 11:58:14 Pacific
Reply:

I just tried that .vbs file on my workststion and didn't get an error. I'm thinking maybe those two reghacks are conflicting. Going to restore the reg backup I made before I did either and just try the second one (.vbs).

We'll see what happens..

Doug

Blame Bill...


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Response Number 16
Name: per
Date: November 10, 2004 at 12:09:16 Pacific
Reply:

Hope it works. Let me know which one works if it does.

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


0

Response Number 17
Name: jdouglaswhite
Date: November 10, 2004 at 13:55:35 Pacific
Reply:

No luck with that.
Looks like it's getting a clean start.
Thanks for the effort!
Doug

Blame Bill...


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Response Number 18
Name: per
Date: November 10, 2004 at 13:57:10 Pacific
Reply:

OK thx for the reply.

Please post back within 24 hours or I will delete the post from my follow up list. Thanks. It would be a courtesy if you would post back and let us know if the fix worked or not.


0

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