Start menu links open as text files?

[brimstone]

New FARR user here. I used it about 2 days and then decided FARR alone was worth my $20 donation.   

This may have already been answered, but I couldn't find anything via searching. For some reason, most of my start menu shortcuts (*.lnk files) load up as a text file.  The LNKs work fine, as I can launch the application by simply double-clicking on the *.lnk within my file manager.

Any ideas? I'm sure it's probably something simple I've missed.

[EDIT] I've tried both FARR v1.13 and the latest v2 Beta. Both exhibit the same problems.

[mouser]

that is really bizzarre and i've never heard of it before.
it sounds like maybe your .lnk files have somehow been configured to open as text files, though maybe your file manager is overriding that, hiding the problem?

if you use a 3rd party file manager, try windows explorer and see what happens.

as a workaround, you could try going to the options of FARR and on the general tab UNCHECK "Always launch shortcuts directly instead of resolving links"

[brimstone]

Thanks for the help, Mouser

It's strange, but some shortcuts work great with FARR, while others continue to start up as text files. After unchecking the box, most resolve to the correct executable.

Using both xplorer2 and windows explorer, the LNK files open great. But the ones that don't resolve (they just point to the LNK in the start menu), continue to open up in Notepad.

Wierd...I'll continue to look and see if it's a local problem.

[mouser]

i'd love to know why that's happening.. sounds very bizzarre.

[mouser]

just a note to myself to check out: http://www.ureader.com/message/234985.aspx

[mouser]

see if you can spot anything unusual about the lnk files that it opens up still in notepad.

[mouser]

please make a note of which lnks dont open properly.
i can try coding an alternative way of launching the .lnk files and we can see if that fixes it.

[brimstone]

I found the solution, but not sure exactly how some of the shortcuts got screwed up.

http://forums.techguy.org/malware-removal-hijackthis-logs/567830-help-exe-files-changed-lnk.html

The registry fixed worked perfectly. Still not sure why, though. I've never had any issues with viruses or spyware on this system.

[app103]

just a note to myself to check out: http://www.ureader.com/message/234985.aspx

Thanks! I needed this info.