Win 7 64bit .lnk issue after windows update

Pagan Wizard

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Joined
Jan 12, 2002
Messages
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Like the headline reads, after I recently did Windows Update on my computer with Win7 64 bit, I now have the dreaded .lnk problem. I can revert to my last saved restore point, but when I power down, it wants to redo the updates causing the problem all over again. I watched 4 or 5 YouTube videos, and none of them had the cure. PLEASE HELP ME!!!
 
An explanation of the problem would be nice. What is the ".lnk problem"?
 
All icons on the desktop and in quick launch, are solid white boxes and inactive, they no longer launch the associated program.
 
This page explains the problem and the reasons, and provides a link to a registry fix for Vista, which apparently works for Win7. This page has updated registry fixes for Win7 specifically, but I'm not sure what the difference is.

Edit: I think this is the manual fix to the registry if you don't trust registry fixes from the Internet:

From the affected machine, launch registry editor (regedit.exe) with your Admin Account
Navigate to below key and export to make a backup in C:\Apps (file:///C:/Apps)

HKEY_USERS\users key\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.lnk

Delete other key under .lnk, leaving OpenWithList and OpenWithProgids
Press F5 to refresh then close Registry Editor
Launch Task Manager > Processes and locate explorer.exe then right click and select End Process
Click on File > New Task (Run) and key-in explorer.exe and hit Enter
Test to confirm that issue should now be fix

(Source, down in the comments)
 
evilsofa, sorry I didn't check in to see your response sooner. I have been really busy with work and other things. I will try to resolve my computer issue ASAP and will respond here to let you know how things went. Thanks again!!!!!
 
evilsofa, I download the exe fix from that page, and nothing happened even after a restart. I then decided to go to Task Manager and manually force explorer.exe off then relaunched it.....voila........problem resolved. TYVM You were a huge help.
 
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