Solved Desktop Icons Open File Security Warning

[anaron]

This issue just started about noon today. I can click on "some" of my desktop icons and get a warning =
Open File - Security Warning asking me if I want to open this file. I used system restore but no help. I even backed up a cloned hard drive that I knew to be correct but still did not resolve the issue. I have checked out various recommendations but none worked. I did find a workaround. Right click the icon, select properties, click the shortcut tab, click the advanced button at the bottom and check run as administrator. This fixed all of the faulty icons. However, this does not show the reason or the cause of this happening nor does it fix the root of the problem. Any suggestions?

Ron Burnes

 

[mitchell65]

What A/V do you have installed and is it up to date? Try running Malwarebytes

 

[anaron]

automatic updates with Microsoft Security Essentials
Malwarebytes, trojan remover, ccleaner, sfc scannow all were ran with nothing showing up.
Have no idea what went haywire. Ran all the same things I run everyday.

 

[Sir George]

automatic updates with Microsoft Security Essentials
Malwarebytes, trojan remover, ccleaner, sfc scannow all were ran with nothing showing up.
Have no idea what went haywire. Ran all the same things I run everyday.

A possible reason may be one of the MS updates. You can view the most recent updates by opening "Control Panel", select "Programs & Features" and on the left side click "View Installed Updates". Look in the list for any updates associated with when the problem began and uninstall it/them one at a time to see if the problem is resolved.

HTH

 

[anaron]

I have 3 cloned hard drive backups from various times past that I know are clean and good. I used the oldest one to restore the hd but it did not resolve the issue therefore it is not the updates causing the issue. The malfunctioning icons will work correctly if right click the icon, select properties, click the shortcut tab, click the advanced button at the bottom and check "run as administrator". I can un-check the "run as administrator" and I will get the Open File - Security Warning.

 

[mitchell65]

Then I can't see how the back up images are "good" if restoring from them does not cure the problem which clearly must by a software issue. It seems clear to me that the software problem was contained in the clone. Is it possible that the problem has always been there and you have only just noticed it. Do you always use the same user account? How many users have you on the PC?. Have you tested all the users?

 

[andrew129260]

Show us a screenshot or problem steps recorder of the issue. Hard to help without seeing what you are talking about.

 

[anaron]

mitchell65, there is only one user account - me. I allow no one else to touch this machine. I agree that the problem had to be in the clone or the restore would have resolved the issue. It would have been extremely hard to not notice as the affected icons are: ccleaner, microsoft outlook, password safe, Epson scan and Adr_Book. There is no issues with the other 13 icons on the desktop. I use all of these icons several times each day. The quirk is that the clone I reverted back to is 9 months old and this problem has never happened until now. It also happens in safe mode. As I stated, I can get those 5 icons to work by selecting "run as administrator".

 

[anaron]

andrew129160, here is the psr.

 

[andrew129260]

Ok, I think I know whats going on.

Go to this tutorial here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/182353-open-file-security-warning-enable-disable.html

Under option 2 in the registry, find the "lnk" extension in the registry key mentioned and backspace it, leaving the others alone. It looks like somehow this was added to the key low risk extensions so your being prompted by it. Removing it should fix the issue.

Alternatively, you can disable the warning all together, But I do not recommend that for security reasons.

Restart your pc when finished.

 

[anaron]

I tried Brinks option 2 at 3 am this morning and it did not work. Apparently I messed something up as it just worked perfectly. Thanks andrew126260. Would really like to know why and what caused the issue but it will probably be attributed to those ole computer gremlins! Thanks everybody.

Ron Burnes

 

[andrew129260]

Sorry forgot to add you need to restart to apply the changes. That's why.