The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
SYMPTOMS
When you select programs from the Start menu or shortcuts nothing happens,
the "Open with" dialog box is displayed or a specific program runs.
CAUSE
The .lnk association is either missing, incorrect or corrupted. Because all
shortcuts and Program Menu items are files with a .lnk extension. Selecting
one either brings up the "Open with" dialog box, a specific application
such as Notepad.exe or Wordpad.exe or doesn't do anything.
RESOLUTION
You can correct this by either restoring the registry key from another
working computer or manually replacing the registry key.
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide
problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them.
Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of
Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.
To restore the registry key from another computer, perform the following
steps:
- Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and select the following subkey:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk
- From the Edit menu, click Delete.
- On another Windows NT 4.0 computer, start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe)
and select the registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk.
- From the Registry menu, click Save Key.
- Copy this file to the computer exhibiting the problem or to a floppy
disk.
- On the computer exhibiting the problem, recreate the registry key by
selecting HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and then from the Edit menu, click Add Key.
Type .lnk for the key name.
- Select the new key, click Restore from the Registry menu, and select the
file from the other computer or floppy disk.
- Quit Registry Editor and restart the computer. Test a Program menu item
or shortcut.
To manually enter the information, perform the following steps:
- Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), select the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
subkey, and then from the Edit menu, click Add Key.
- In the Add Value dialog box, click OK to leave the Value Name blank, and
the Data Type as REG_SZ.
- Type lnkfile in the String Editor dialog box, and then click OK.
- From the Edit menu, click Add Key and create the registry key ShellNew
under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk
- Click Add Value from the Edit menu, and type Command for the Data Name
with a Data Type of REG_SZ. Enter RunDLL32 AppWiz.Cpl,NewLinkHere %1 for
the string.
- Quit Registry Editor and restart the computer.
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