Windows 7: Favorites Link in Navigation Pane Broken

The Favorites link in my Navigation Pane is there, but it does not work. If I click it it goes to a blank folder which is not my favorites folder. I can navigate to my favorites folder through c:\Users\username\Faorites and even place items there. However, for some reason the favorites in the Navigation Pane is not pointing to this location.

I have tried running shell:favorites from the run box and also restarting several times. I also tried a system restore but even the earliest restore was not early enough (this happened shortly after installation.) Right clicking on the favorites link in Navigation Pane and clicking "restore favorite links" does nothing. In fact, clicking anything does nothing. A small red circle with a line through it (the "no smoking" symbol) appears next to my cursor whenever I try to drag items there. I have searched in vain for a fix.

Is there any way to reset this behavior? This is really bothering me because I cannot navigate easily to my desktop folder and have to go a round-about way when saving/opening files. Also, I am using a legitimate copy of Windows 7. Thank you for your help.

Try going to the link, right click>properties>location. Reset to the proper location.

Mine says c:\Users\richc46\Favorites

If that does not work, set up a new folder for favorites and put that name rather than favorites in the link.

Hello, and welcome to Seven Forums.

The source folder for Favorites in the Navigation Pane is the C:\Users\(user-name)\Links folder instead. The C:\Users\(user-name)\Favorites folder is for Favortites in Internet Explorer.

See if restoring the default location of the Links folder may help using step 6 in OPTION TWO in the tutorial below.

User Folders - Restore Default Location

Also if Favorites in the Navigation pane is empty, then this should be able to help with that.

Favorite Links Empty - Vista Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Restoring Link folder worked like a charm. I now enjoy Windows 7 again. Thank you; this is a great forum.

You're welcome.