Attempt to transfer XP desktop shortcuts to Windows 7 PC failed

I have alot of desktop shortcuts on my older XP system & wanted to copy them to my new Windows 7 PC. I successfully copied them onto my external hard drive, powered off, reconnected the external hard drive to my Windows 7 PC & powered on. I then copied the desktop shortcut file to the apporpriate place (C:\(user)\desktop folder. It looked like it worked but whenever I try to open one by selecting it, all I get is a blank IE 9 screen. There is no address for the website. Yet, when I look at the properties of a shortcut, it displays the full website address.

What am I doing wrong? Hopefully I will not have to enter each one in manually.

What are you trying to copy ? Favorites ?

You have to copy ( import ) your favorites from your user account in XP to your favorites in W7.

I already successfully copied my favorites over. What I am trying to do now is to simply copy the desktop shortcuts (icons) I have on my XP system. Most of these are not actually in my favorites.

Shortcuts to what exactly?

Primarily to websites that I frequent. I create them while I am on a website by using the File drop down menu of Internet Explorer & then choose "send", then "shortcut to Desktop".

You have to create them from 7. Why aren`t you just adding the favorites menu to your start menu ? ( It would be 2 clicks ) Why are you cluttering up your desktop with icons ?

I am sorry to hear that I will have to recreate them. It has been very convenient just to use that send to desktop ability in XP. I like having my most commonly used websites right there where I can easily find them.
I guess what I can do to minimize the amount of work for me is to create a saved favorite in XP for each of those desktop icons I want in 7 & then copy that file to the apporpriate favorite folder in 7. Then create a desktop shortcut for any one that I want visible on my desktop.

AddRAM said:

You have to create them from 7. Why aren`t you just adding the favorites menu to your start menu ? ( It would be 2 clicks ) Why are you cluttering up your desktop with icons ?

I'm thinking the OP is just keeping a few easily accessed icons on the desktop for the most frequently visited websites.

I totally understand what the OP is trying to do, thanks.