How can I set my local H: drive paths as fully trusted and unrestricted

Question

How can I set my local H: drive paths as fully trusted and unrestricted

Bill Hanson 5

My newly created shortcuts get a Windows Security "can't be opened" Error Message I suspect this was is caused by Windows Update: 2026-06 Security Update (KB5094126) (26200.8655) on ‎6/‎15/‎2026 - How to fix?

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Bill Hanson 5

Hello again Sin-D

It seems that my conviction, that I had found a few instances of the shortcut problem, was an illusion that led me to jumped to a conclusion that led to an occlusion of reality. Either that or I might stumble across them in the future.

My first few organized, rather than random, shortcut tests (both Pre- & Post the Windows update) to and from different sets of folders, in different folder and file trees, were all problem free. To be absolutely sure continued checking files and their shortcuts that were created after the June 15 again with no Problems.

Since that eliminated the Windows Update as the source of my problem. I then focused my testing on other folder combinations in the vicinity of the problem ones and, after a few tries and no problems, I focused in on the problem files in the origin folder and the shortcut files in the destination folder. Since I had already determined that the lack of an Unblocking function wasn’t the issue and I couldn’t of anything else I did a work around by:

1. shortening the file tree by a couple of folders

2. created a new origin and destination set of folders

3. opened the original files in the old original folder

4. saved-as the open documents to the new origin folder

5. created new shortcuts to the new files

6. moved the shortcuts to the new destination folder …Et voilà ..no more problem! (unless, I stumble across the other ones I thought I’d seen and deal with them in the same way)

My regrets for taking your time unnecessarily and my great appreciation for your willingness to help.

May you and life be kind and generous to each other always in all ways

Link to my MS Learn post

Anonymous

2026-07-08T04:53:12.2166667+00:00

Hi Bill Hanson,

I understand, and thank you for taking the time to follow up with such a detailed explanation.

No apology is necessary. In fact, the testing you performed was very helpful because it systematically ruled out several possible causes. Based on your findings, it appears the issue was not related to the June Windows update, which aligns with the fact that your organized testing showed both pre-update and post-update shortcuts functioning normally in other locations. The workaround of creating new copies of the files, shortening the folder path, and recreating the shortcuts successfully resolving the problem suggests the issue was likely isolated to those specific files, shortcuts, or folder structures rather than a broader Windows Security or update-related problem.

Thank you as well for sharing the explanation regarding the endlessly spinning "I'm working on it" indicator. Your theory certainly sounds plausible, and I'm glad the post ultimately made it through successfully.

Most importantly, it's great to hear that you now have a working solution. Should you encounter additional instances in the future, the same approach of recreating the files and shortcuts in a new location may help confirm whether they stem from the same underlying condition.

Thank you for sharing your results and conclusions. I appreciate the effort you put into investigating the issue, and your detailed feedback may also be helpful to other community members who encounter similar behavior.

Wishing you all the best, and thank you for the kind words
Bill Hanson 5 Reputation points

2026-07-08T18:12:53.21+00:00
Hello yet again Sin-D

When I was attempting to post my July 7 message about solving my problem I had trouble logging in and some confusions around whether or not my post had actually worked.

Looking at this page as it is displaying to me:

I don't see any way to designate that solution as "accepted"

There is a duplicate of that post with no edit button that I can use to delete it.

At the top of this page there are 3 red "Deleted" that I hope don't display to anyone but me. And, when I clicked on the "Comments have been turned off" Learn More link that troublesome "Leave Page" message displayed.

That same message popped up when I tried to Select "most helpful" to try and display my July 7th "solved" post. When I clicked on "stay on page" the "most helpful" was displaying and a pre-solution July 6th post of mine was at the top of all the posts with no way I could see of specifying that my July 7th post should be there.

Also I had sign-up and login problems that have resulted in my having a virginal account that has no connection to this post. The only way I can access this page is from the links offered in the auto-email message follow each post of comment. It's probably my bad but I don't usually have so many glitches when using a new to me program.

This forum has not proved to be anywhere near as user friendly to me as you have personally. But, again that could easily my bad for trying to figure out how to do what I want done in my first time Microsoft Learn experience without deep diving into the related documentation.

If you have the authority to get the July 7th "Solved" post displaying at the top it would ignite one more burst of appreciation for your help in me. Preferably without the red Delete messages above it would be good.

So, now I happily go back to developing my non-profit Total Representation Advocacy project. If that prompt curiosity there is a pre-public launch intro at www.totalrep.ca
Anonymous

2026-07-09T04:20:27.2466667+00:00

Hi Bill Hanson,

I understand, and thank you for taking the time to explain what you are seeing.

Since you have already identified and shared the resolution to the shortcut issue, I would not worry too much if the solution post is not currently appearing at the top. The important part is that the solution information is now present in the thread and may help other users who encounter a similar issue.

Thank you as well for returning to document your findings. Your systematic testing that ruled out the Windows update and identified a workable folder-path solution may prove useful to others in the future.

I'm glad to hear the issue itself is resolved, and I appreciate your kind words about the support experience. Best wishes for your Total Representation Advocacy project, and I hope it continues to progress successfully.

7 additional answers

Your answer

Anonymous

2026-07-08T04:53:12.2166667+00:00

Hi Bill Hanson,

I understand, and thank you for taking the time to follow up with such a detailed explanation.

No apology is necessary. In fact, the testing you performed was very helpful because it systematically ruled out several possible causes. Based on your findings, it appears the issue was not related to the June Windows update, which aligns with the fact that your organized testing showed both pre-update and post-update shortcuts functioning normally in other locations. The workaround of creating new copies of the files, shortening the folder path, and recreating the shortcuts successfully resolving the problem suggests the issue was likely isolated to those specific files, shortcuts, or folder structures rather than a broader Windows Security or update-related problem.

Thank you as well for sharing the explanation regarding the endlessly spinning "I'm working on it" indicator. Your theory certainly sounds plausible, and I'm glad the post ultimately made it through successfully.

Most importantly, it's great to hear that you now have a working solution. Should you encounter additional instances in the future, the same approach of recreating the files and shortcuts in a new location may help confirm whether they stem from the same underlying condition.

Thank you for sharing your results and conclusions. I appreciate the effort you put into investigating the issue, and your detailed feedback may also be helpful to other community members who encounter similar behavior.

Wishing you all the best, and thank you for the kind words
Anonymous

2026-07-09T04:20:27.2466667+00:00

Hi Bill Hanson,

I understand, and thank you for taking the time to explain what you are seeing.

Since you have already identified and shared the resolution to the shortcut issue, I would not worry too much if the solution post is not currently appearing at the top. The important part is that the solution information is now present in the thread and may help other users who encounter a similar issue.

Thank you as well for returning to document your findings. Your systematic testing that ruled out the Windows update and identified a workable folder-path solution may prove useful to others in the future.

I'm glad to hear the issue itself is resolved, and I appreciate your kind words about the support experience. Best wishes for your Total Representation Advocacy project, and I hope it continues to progress successfully.

Answer 1

Hi Bill Hanson,

I understand this issue started after a recent Windows update, and I'd like to gather a bit more information before assuming KB5094126 is the direct cause.

To help narrow down the cause, could you clarify:

Is H: a local internal drive, external USB drive, mapped network drive, or virtual drive?
Does the problem affect all shortcuts on H:, or only certain ones?
What is the exact error message shown by Windows Security?
Do shortcuts that were created before the June update still work, or are they affected as well?

In the meantime, please try the following:

Right-click one of the affected shortcuts and select "Properties".
On the "General" tab, check whether an "Unblock" option appears near the bottom of the window.
If "Unblock" is present, select it, click "Apply", then try opening the shortcut again.
Create a new shortcut on the Desktop (C: drive) that points to the same target and see whether the new shortcut opens correctly.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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Answer 2

Bill Hanson 5

Thanks for your response

Prior to my post here I've be using AI to try and find a solution and it made the same suggestion bur there was no Unblock Option available. So my response to the “Did you solve your problem” question below had to be No but if there had been a “Might Be Helpful” button would have clicked on it in the hope that knowing there was no “Unblock” option might have provided information useful in finding a solution.

Your “help narrow down the cause” questions...I could have answered the first 3 when I learned about your response in mid-morning. However the third prompted me to want to go data diving to ensure that I have more precise information to share with you than random checking that convinced me that the Windows 11 update was the culprit.

Unfortunately I haven't completed that task yet and I have a commitment for the rest of the day that will postpone any more work on it until tomorrow. Once I have completed it I will post answers to 4 questions along including the results of my data digging.

I appreciate your willingness to help and but don't want to waste your time so please hold off on dealing with this until I have made that next post.

Anonymous

2026-07-07T04:06:59.7+00:00
Hi Bill Hanson,

I understand and appreciate the update. Thank you for taking the time to investigate this further and for letting me know where things currently stand.

The fact that there was no "Unblock" option available is useful information, as it helps rule out one of the more common causes of Windows blocking shortcut files. At this point, it makes sense to wait for the additional details from your testing before drawing any conclusions about whether the issue is related to KB5094126, a security policy change, or something specific to how shortcuts on the H: drive are being handled.

When you have time to continue your investigation, please post:

Whether H: is a local internal drive, external drive, mapped network drive, or virtual drive.

Whether the issue affects all shortcuts on H: or only certain ones.

The exact error message displayed.

Whether shortcuts created before the June update are affected in the same way as newly created ones.

The results of your additional testing may help identify a pattern and narrow the issue down further.

Please feel free to return when you've completed your investigation, and I'll be happy to review the information and continue troubleshooting from there.
Bill Hanson 5 Reputation points

2026-07-07T04:41:01.45+00:00

Thanks Sin-D I'll be getting onto it sometime tomorrow morning. I'm glad to hear you got the update. When I clicked on Post the the "I'm working on it" circle replace the post button going round and round. It was still doing about 40 minutes later (3 pm) when had to leave. And, it was still doing so when I got home almost 5 hours later. Weird.
Anonymous

2026-07-07T04:44:38.0166667+00:00

Hi Bill Hanson,

I understand, and thank you for the update.

The behavior you described with the "Post" button showing a spinning "I'm working on it" indicator for several hours is certainly unusual. Since the comment was eventually posted, it may have been a temporary issue with the Microsoft Q&A website, the browser session, or the connection between the page and the service at that time.

Thank you for taking the time to gather additional information before continuing the troubleshooting.

Whenever you have completed the investigation and testing, please post the results of the four questions and any additional findings from your data review. I'll be happy to help analyze the information and continue narrowing down the cause.
Bill Hanson 5 Reputation points

2026-07-07T13:45:34.0066667+00:00

I think what was happening is that while I was waiting for it to stop spinning before I clicked on Leave This Page it was spinning as it was spinning as it waited for me to click on Leave This Page. Who'da thunk it!
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