In Windows 7, .LNK File associations changed

Anonymous
2009-12-01T13:47:55+00:00

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?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2009-12-02T02:40:32+00:00

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 ****Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-09-15T00:02:39+00:00

    I don't know if somebody already resolved this problem but I just happened to figure this out.

    In Wxp used to be very simple to associate a file with a program within the folder options (I am assuming most people know that).

    Microsoft DID NOT remove this functionality,  they simple moved it to a different area but you can still access it and change it.

    In Windows 7 with IE 9 or Windows 8 with IE10

    Open your browser then go to Tools>>>Internet Options

    Then navigate to the Programs tab and click on the "Set Programs" button

    Then click on the "associate a file typ or protocol with a program" blue link

    There you have it!!   you should be familiar with this and I am assuming anyone can figure it out how to change the associated file to a different program from here.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-28T13:52:06+00:00

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-07-22T06:06:12+00:00

    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

     Very helpful.Simple.It works instantly.Thank you

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