Help! Shortcuts (*.lnk)

[KoRo]

I need some real technical expertise here.
While I was fiddling with the 'File Types' settings under the Folder Options menu (under the 'Tools' menu in every window), I accidently deleted the file extension that was responsible for every Shortcut that has been made on the computer (the ones that have the invisible extension of *.lnk)

I've figured out how to get it back, but I don't know what File Type to associate it with. I'll run you through what I've been able to do so far:

Under the 'File Types' tab in the 'Folder Options' window, I click the 'New' button. From there, a window popped up asking me for a File Extension. I assume at this point, i either enter nothing, or enter LNK. Either way afterwards, I click the << Advanced button to bring up the 'Associate File Type' drop down menu. From here, I am presented with a list of about 300 file types on the computer. I would like to know WHICH file type is associated with links and shortcuts on the computer.

Thanks!

[KoRo]

(For some reason I couldn't add this to my original post)

**Update**

I was able to get all of the existing shortcuts back to working order. However now, I am unable to create NEW shortcuts simply by right clicking (on the desktop) and clicking New -> Shortcut. It doesn't pop up the window that asks me to type/browse a location for the shortcut. I assume it has something to do with the original problem that I posted. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Xenos]

Haha you really know how to fck up your computer.  I would be interested in the solution. Problems like that are usually difficult to fix.  If nobody comes up with a real answer I would suggest an xp repair.

[Corona]

lol, that's nothing. This one time, I somehow managed to mess up the associations so that clicking on .exe files popped up a dialog asking what to open them with.

[slorge_gridlock]

1st thing google pulled up. http://http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q172053/

Restoring .lnk file associations
When you select programs from the Start menu or shortcuts nothing happens, the "Open with" dialog box is displayed or a specific program runs.

CAUSE
The .lnk association is either missing, incorrect or corrupted. Because all shortcuts and Program Menu items are files with a .lnk extension. Selecting one either brings up the "Open with" dialog box, a specific application such as Notepad.exe or Wordpad.exe or doesn't do anything.
Back to the top   Back to the top
RESOLUTION
You can correct this by either restoring the registry key from another working computer or manually replacing the registry key.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

To restore the registry key from another computer, perform the following steps:
1.   Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and select the following subkey:

   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk
                  

2.   From the Edit menu, click Delete.
3.   On another Windows NT 4.0 computer, start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and select the registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk.
4.   From the Registry menu, click Save Key.
5.   Copy this file to the computer exhibiting the problem or to a floppy disk.
6.   On the computer exhibiting the problem, recreate the registry key by selecting HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and then from the Edit menu, click Add Key. Type .lnk for the key name.
7.   Select the new key, click Restore from the Registry menu, and select the file from the other computer or floppy disk.
8.   Quit Registry Editor and restart the computer. Test a Program menu item or shortcut.
To manually enter the information, perform the following steps:
1.   Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), select the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT subkey, and then click Add Key on the Edit menu.
2.   In the Key Name box type ".lnk" (without quotation marks), and then click OK. Note that you should leave the Class box blank.
3.   In the Add Value dialog box, click OK to leave the Value Name blank, and click REG_SZ in the Data Type list.
4.   In the String Editor box, type "lnkfile" (without quotation marks), and then click OK.
5.   Select the .lnk key you just re-created under the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT subkey. On the Edit menu, click Add Key and then type "ShellNew" (without quotation marks). Note that you should leave the Class box blank.
6.   Click Add Value on the Edit menu, type "command" (without quotation marks) in the Data Name box, click REG_SZ in the Data name box, and then type "RunDLL32 AppWiz.Cpl,NewLinkHere %1" (without quotation marks) as the string value.
7.   Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

[slorge_gridlock]

hope that works...but have you tried using windows restore prior to the date you screwed the pooch?

[KoRo]

Mmm thats a solution for my first problem :-p but the second thing, while not direly important or major, is still rather a bugger to fix. And no, i havent tried system restore. But I think i'll be good, so no worries. Thanks though, mostly everything seems to be in working order.

[Particle]

If you'd rather not do those steps, I can automate the process with a program.

[KoRo]

Nono its all good, but thanks for the offer. The only complication is that it's someone elses computer....But as long as I fixed the first part, I think i'll be fine. As far as I know, they don't even know how to make their own shortcuts, short of right-clicking on their target and going to 'Create Shortcut'