.lnk files for All Programs menu

Whenever I open an item inside the start menu, it prompts with windows asking me if I want to open the file. Any idea why it does this now?

See attached screenshot.

I've tried to reset the link association using a cmd and typing "assoc" but that didn't seem to work. I've seen a couple fixes using regedit for Vista, but didn't want to run it on Windows 7.

System restore imo is one of those last resorts. I'd rather not mess with it unless I have to. There is a registry fix out there somewhere... just can't seem to find out where. If people were able to fix it for Vista, then the problem should be known.

I'll probably just do a system restore if I can't figure it out within the next week or so.

try this first. right click the poweriso shortcut and delete it. then go to program files / poweriso and send a copy of the poweriso exe to the desktop as a shortcut, then move that shortcut to the old poweriso spot in the start menu. see if you click the new start menu shortcut if it works correctly.

Same thing happens

That did not work for me, I still have the same problem. I ran across this thread: All of my shortcuts go to the same program and they all have the extension, .lnk.

However, when I open up File Type Doctor, and select .lnk in the extension type, the "Actions in right-click menu" were:

CompactContentMenu Class
Open Containing Folder Menu
Shortcut

Not sure which ones to delete/add.

Does anyone else have Creative Element PowerTools and can check their settings for the lnk extension?

Basically, any shorcut that appears in this folder, that is a shortcut for an EXE file, brings up the prompt in my first post: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

If it is a shortcut for a pdf, txt file, etc.. it opens it up without any open file security warning...

If I navigate directly to the .exe file, and double click it, it opens without a problem.

If I take the current .exe file, and create a new shortcut on the desktop, then it works when I double click that shortcut on the desktop.

I have UAC set to the lowest security setting possible. One tutorial I found suggests I add .lnk files to the "Inclusion list for moderate risk file types" exclusion list, but that doesn't sound like the right way to "fix" the actual problem.

I had someone test their lnk file associations to make sure mine lined up correctly using PowerTools, and all appears to be well with those. See: Need a tester, Win 7 x64 using Power Tools

So I'm at a loss about what else to test.

Right now I know that the shortcut .lnk file works correctly with all files except for .exe file! When I open .exe files directly, no warnings or anything pops up.

The warning box just seems so weird to be receiving!