Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
    Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix

    Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix

    Fix Empty Favorites in Navigation Pane in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    Fix Empty Favorites in Navigation Pane in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

       Information
    This tutorial will show you how to fix Favorites when it is empty under it without any favorite links in the Windows Explorer navigation pane in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

    You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

       Tip
    Double check to make sure that the Favorites links are not just hidden by mistake, and needed to be unhidden.

    If you only deleted the Favorites links, then you could use the tutorial below to restore them instead:

    How to Restore the Default Favorite Links in Windows 7 Navigation Pane


    EXAMPLE: Favorites - Default and Empty
    NOTE: If Favorites is completety empty in the Navigation Pane and in the main window pane in Windows Explorer, then you will need to also do what is in the TIP box below.
    Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix-default.jpg
    Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix-empty.jpg
    Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix-empty2.jpg



    OPTION ONE

    To Fix Empty Favorites with a REG File


    1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Fix_Empty_Favorites.reg
    2. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    3. Double click/tap the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    4. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

    5. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

    6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

       Tip
    If Favorites is still empty afterwards, then download and merge the lnk (LNK) option in the tutorial below to restore all of the default association for shortcuts (lnk).

    Default File Type Associations - Restore

    AND

    Double check to make sure that your C:\Users\(user-name)\Links folder is set to the default location.







    OPTION TWO

    To Manually Fix Empty Favorites in Registry Editor


    1. Open the Start Menu, and type regedit in the search box and press enter.

    2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (UAC Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC Vista).

    3. In regedit, navigate to the location below.
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
    4. In the right pane of lnkfile, right click or press and hold on an empty space, and click/tap on New and String Value. (see screenshot below)
    Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix-reg1.jpg
    5. Type in IsShortcut for the name, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
    Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix-reg2.jpg
    6. Close regedit.

       Tip
    If Favorites is still empty afterwards, then download and merge the lnk (LNK) option in the tutorial below to restore all of the default association for shortcuts (lnk).

    Default File Type Associations - Restore

    AND

    Double check to make sure that the C:\Users\(user-name)\Links folder is set to the default location.

    That's it,
    Shawn







  1. Posts : 19
    windows 7 professional 32 bit
       #1

    Hi ,

    I deleted the links folder by mistake and recreated it manually but nothing worked ??
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    lastbreath said:
    Thank ... but I mange to solve it by myself ..
    I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted. :)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
       #3

    Hum... hum... And what if ?...


    Hi

    So...
    What if I have no entry at all called : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile ?
    Obviously : nomore IsShortcut within...

    Please help me...
    I can't stand any more having my Links' folder not expanding in the navigation pane

    You'll be so kind...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix-screencopy.png  
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello BBluminou, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    You should have lnkfile by default. You'll have to scroll down past all the short file extension keys listed at first at the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT registry location until you come down to where the alphabet starts over for the longer key names. You'll then just scroll down to lnkfile.

    If you like, you could use OPTION ONE to have the REG file fix this for you instead of trying to do it manually in OPTION TWO.

    Hope this helps for now, :)

    Shawn
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
       #5

    Hi

    Thank you for answering but... for I've tried using the Search Box (CTRL+F) and I don't even have an entry called Inkfile !

    Does W7 x64 works the same way than x86's one ?

    I did post a screencopy to show what I have in the registry at that place...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix-screencopy_2.png  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    That's a L and not a I for LNKFILE/lnkfile.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
       #7

    A Miracle...
    God bless you, Brink !
    You're just a genius to me who was hanging around from forums to forums for the past 18 months...
    Thank you so much !
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're most welcome. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
       #9

    Neither option works on my computer


    and I don't have a C:\Users\(user-name)\Links folder nor HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile. How can I fix this problem?
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:53.
Find Us