Windows 7 - Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix

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How to Fix Empty Favorites in Windows Explorer Navigation Pane

Information

This will show you how to fix Favorites when it is empty under it without any favorite links in the Windows Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Vista.

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.

OPTION ONE

To Fix with a REG File Download

1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Fix_Empty_Favorites.reg

2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

3. Right click the downloaded .reg file on the Desktop and click on Merge.

4. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

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

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file on the desktop 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 the C:\Users\(user-name)\Links folder is set to the default location.

OPTION TWO

To Manually Fix 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 (if administrator) or enter the administrator's password (if standard user).

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile

4. In the right pane of lnkfile, right click on a empty space and click on New and String Value. (see screenshot below)

5. Type in IsShortcut for the name and press enter. (see screenshot below)

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

Windows 7 - Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix

Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix

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