In Windows 7, .LNK File associations changed

All of the desktop shortcut icons and Start program icons on a new Windows 7machine have had their file  association changed from whatever the default association was to another program, ie. IE Explorer, with the result that none of the links launch the correct program.  Changing the Open With setting of any one link to any other program causes all of the links to change to the selected program.  Consequently, nothing works.  Is there a default file association for *.LNK files and if so can the current file association be changed back to the correct Windows default?  The system has Norton Anti-virus running and up-to-date so no indication of a virus problem and while the user isn't certain, recalls responding to an 'open with' request while starting a game.  All other configuration settings appear to be okay.  Any suggestions?
Answer
Answer
Hi XRO,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers Forum.
As per your information I feel that the computer is effected with some virus, I would suggest you to run malware scan.

LNK file is a shortcut to a program (.EXE file), it can contain attributes to define how the program runs; to set the attributes, right-click the shortcut file, select "Properties," and modify the Target Field.

LNK file icons typically include a small curled arrow to indicate that the file points to another location.

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistasecurity/thread/ba80504b-61f1-4d71-960f-b561798b7b42
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaappearance/thread/549cf3d1-5fa8-4611-813d-7795f431b48a
 
Hope this helps. Let us know the results.
Thanks & Regards,
Vijay – Microsoft Support
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the only simple way to remove the association IS THIS

http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/231/1/An-Utility-to-Unassociate-File-Types-in-Windows-7-and-Vista.html

JUST CLICK Remove .lnk file association AND THATS IT

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Last updated November 17, 2020 Views 386,109 Applies to: