All of my shortcuts go to the same program and they all have the extension, .lnk.

Below is an easy fix that really works.

My intention here is to be absolutely clear, and to do so by including lots of detail.

My problem was this.  Every shortcut on my computer (running Windows 7) moved me to Windows Media Player. 

[Comments:  A) This is an enormously frustrating problem.  B) It may be fairly uncommon, so few people write about it.  C) After hours of work, I was on the verge of reinstalling the Windows 7 operating system.  D)  This experience reinforces the importance of setting up system restore points using steps available at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/system-restore.  I had failed to do so when I replaced XP with Windows 7 a few months earlier.  E)  While all of my shortcuts were moving to Windows Media Player, your problem may be with shortcuts that force you to some other program.  F)  I found that some of the solutions offered by folks on Microsoft Answers to be frustrating and difficult for me.  I have no idea if they work.]

The solution is easy IF YOU HAVE VERY GOOD DIRECTIONS.  (Comment:  My thanks to Maikel; he posted the solution on Nov. 14, 2009, on Microsoft Answers in response to a question that said, “All of my shortcuts go to the same program and they all have the extension, .lnk.”)

DO THE FOLLOWING.

1.     Go to http://www.creativelement.com/powertools/.  (These people are not hustlers.  They seem quite reliable and reputable.)

2.     That will bring you to Creativeelement Power Tools.  Download and run the free program by clicking on DOWNLOAD (free).  

3.     Identify your operating system and click DOWNLOAD NOW.

4.     Here it gets complicated.  You have lots of choices.  Select FILE TYPE DOCTOR.  That will produce a fairly complex window.

5.     Because you are working with a shortcut, in the left part of the window you need to select the extension “.lnk” (description: shortcut).

6.     Once you select “.lnk” you will see a window on the right that – in red – says “User Choice Override.”  Select “User Choice Overrice” and click X for REMOVE.

7.     That’s it.  Your problem should be solved at that moment.  There will be no need to restart.

Mozel!

Joe

Thank you soo much!!

Hi Mensard1,

I had the same problem. I solved it by downloading  http://www.creativelement.com/powertools/ and then running the program (from the directory, as none of my shortcuts were working) "File Type Doctor". When I selected ".lnk" in the extension list it said in the Actions in the Right Click Menu:

"(user choice override)" in red ... and

"Open"

I then removed the "(user choice override)" and that was it. All the shortcuts were working again, just like they used to.

Good luck,

Maikel

The file doctor worked great thanks... I had been looking for answer for ages.

hi i am trying this but cant find the directory?

where is it?

thanks

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