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desktop icons turned into .lnk files

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My desktop icons and program links listed in all programs have turned into Windows Media Player .lnk files. Whenever you try to open them, Media Player opens followed by an error box stating the MP cant run this type of file. I can access all my files and programs by going to C>programfiles or Documents. This all happened right after I used the MP to play a DVD for the very first time. I had used it for viewing pictures and internet files. I am running Windows 7 Professional with Virtual PC and Windows XP mode. Thanks for your help

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Bradner

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Hi Bradner ,

Clicking on the .Lnk files should open up the associated .exe files. However if the .LNK files doesn’t work, this can be because the underlying .EXE association has been broken often by some programs improperly changing the registry or the association in the registry can become corrupted.

You may try changing the file association from the Control Panel.

Navigate the following location to change the file association.

Start \Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\Set Associations

Instructions on how to change is provided in the link below.

Change which programs Windows uses by default
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Change-which-programs-Windows-uses-by-default

If that doesn’t help, please follow Sean Zhu’s post on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 6:26 AM from the link below on how to restore the .link file association.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/itprovistadesktopui/thread/e8631c28-4ce5-43cc-8865-b75fa2255b57

That should do the trick.

Regards,

Shinmila H - Microsoft Support

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Shinmila H

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Hi Shinmila, The first answer didnt really address the real problem, but the link to Sean's solution worked perfectly. What would cause this to happen in the first place? Any thoughts? Thanks for your response. Bradner

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Bradner

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Hi Bradner ,

Here’s a little insight on LNK file and how it works in Windows.
LNK is Windows Shortcut file which links to a program, file or directory. This type of file creates a link to a program or application, from another location. These files are used as placeholders for executables and other files and are usually placed on computer desktop or start menu.

When you click on the shortcut it is like clicking on the .EXE file itself which the lnk file is pointing to and the associated program should start and run. Some known related errors to .LNK files are that they stop working due to the underlying .EXE file-type association in the registry often by some form of anti-malware program improperly changing the registry or else the registry key value become corrupt. In this scenario it could quite be possible that the registry got incorrectly modified when you tried playing DVD.

Nevertheless, as long as it works, it’s good.

Happy weekend!

Regards,

Shinmila H - Microsoft Support

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Shinmila H

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Hi Shinmila

Thanks used link worked fine. Can you advise how to change icons ?

Cheers Jim

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NPFSC

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Thank you for you answer! My problem is solved. :)

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KonradLeffler

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If your using windows 7. You can try this.

Go to Regedit

1. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre

ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.lnk

Note: Make sure you back up the FileExts folder before deleting the UserChoice Folder

2. Delete the UserChoice folder

3. Restart your computer

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snipernsn

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