Web Document property disappearing on URL shortcuts

[Erock]

Hi,

A very odd error is re-occurring, whereby saved links in my favourites bar no longer work. On inspecting the properties of the link, there is no "Web Document", the section that details what URL the link opens.

I have added new links and deleted these duff ones, than a day or so later, they are back as they were! It is quite annoying - has anybody seen this before or have an idea what may be causing it?

Windows 7 Home edition 64bit
IE10
Samsung R730

I've run Malwarebytes and Superantispyware and have McAfee anti virus.

 

[MilesAhead]

Is it possible you have a Browser Helper Object snuck on the system? When people mess with IE that's often what they use. Programs like WinPatrol have a Tray Context Menu command to show all BHOs. Also when a new one tries to install it alerts you so you can allow it or decline.

 

[Erock]

No, I just checked via that pgm and there are no suspect ones.

 

[MilesAhead]

Only other thing that comes to mind is try Microsoft forums and knowledge base. If IE is doing that on its own there should be reports there.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Use the mcpr removal tool for Mcafee,
How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee products using the Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR)
Then download MSE and test the issue,
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials

I've been using the Favorites bar for many years with never having one listing disappearing or breaking,
Cheers.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I second the motion to use MSE while troubleshooting.

These favorites are just text (INI) shortcut files.

Drag/drop on of them into notepad:

[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
Prop3=19,2
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://www.sevenforums.com/
IDList=
IconFile=http://www.sevenforums.com/favicon.ico
IconIndex=1

Perhaps your favorites are located in a folder path like...
\Users\username\Favorites\Links
...unless you have redirected that folder.
(Links may show as its alias of Favorites Bar.)
(Thanks MS for making that so confusing.)

Make a copy of the shortcut files while they are working. Perhaps copy them all to a temp folder on your desktop. Then compare the contents if one of them goes bad again.

How often does this happen? Can you force it to happen?

Do the date/time stamps change on the shortcut files that have gone bad?

As a band-aid, you might try making these shortcut files read-only, but I would really want to know what is going on.

 

[Erock]

I second the motion to use MSE while troubleshooting.

These favorites are just text (INI) shortcut files.

Drag/drop on of them into notepad:

[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
Prop3=19,2
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://www.sevenforums.com/
IDList=
IconFile=http://www.sevenforums.com/favicon.ico
IconIndex=1

A common one just crapped out again, dragging and dropping to notepad gives this and nothing else.....

[InternetShortcut]
IconFile=http://ebay.com/favicon.ico
IconIndex=1

Perhaps your favorites are located in a folder path like...
\Users\username\Favorites\Links

Yes they are.

Make a copy of the shortcut files while they are working. Perhaps copy them all to a temp folder on your desktop. Then compare the contents if one of them goes bad again.

The difference is that one has a web document property and shows a whole lot more in the notepad.

How often does this happen? Can you force it to happen?

Daily. I don't know, it's random but always the same links. I delete and redo each time.

Do the date/time stamps change on the shortcut files that have gone bad?

Nope.

As a band-aid, you might try making these shortcut files read-only, but I would really want to know what is going on.

Ok, but I'll stick with ongoing diagnosis for now.

Next step is try copying one that never goes bad and rename and adjust.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Try this (if ya want):
Get that ebay favorite working again (copy 1).
Copy it to the desktop (copy 2).
Copy it to the desktop again (copy 3).

If copy 1 goes bad, double click on copy 2. Leave copy 3 untouched by IE. Just attempting to see if some plug-in or security app is making these changes only when IE is involved and if it happens no matter where the shortcut file is located.

If you want, I can probably work up a script that will let you know exactly when the shortcut file is changed. And if you get really desperate, you can add Process Monitor into the mix. Take a look at this post and this one.

Have you changed to the simpler MSE for your antivirus? You can change back to whatever you like after the issue is solved.

 

[Erock]

Try this (if ya want):
Get that ebay favorite working again (copy 1).
Copy it to the desktop (copy 2).
Copy it to the desktop again (copy 3).

If copy 1 goes bad, double click on copy 2. Leave copy 3 untouched by IE. Just attempting to see if some plug-in or security app is making these changes only when IE is involved and if it happens no matter where the shortcut file is located.

Done for a few of them.

If you want, I can probably work up a script that will let you know exactly when the shortcut file is changed. And if you get really desperate, you can add Process Monitor into the mix. Take a look at this post and this one.

Ok thanks.

Have you changed to the simpler MSE for your antivirus? You can change back to whatever you like after the issue is solved.

I'd rather not do that unless I exhaust all possibilities. I've had it for a few years, so can't see how it could be the root of the problem.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Antivirus apps change quite often. They change what they watch for with every signature file update and how they "cure" files with most app updates. But I understand the hassle of removing it. If McAfee does happen to be the culprit, it would be nice to catch it making the change.

 

[Erock]

No broken links so far today. I removed a Skype add on yesterday and all redone links were made by copying existing ones that had never broken.

I am going to make a few new ones and see if these survive. If they do, the culprit would appear to be Skype(?). Very odd.

 

[Erock]

<sigh>

A new link just broke. No warning. New information, a good way to tell is that the actual website icon disappears to be replaced with the bog standard ie icon.

But, I had made a full backup copy(in my user name library as well - different folder) and the backup works fine, copied back and now ok. Looks like something is corrupt within IE10?

 

[MilesAhead]

I'm not an IE user. But it sounds like IE may be periodically scanning to see what favorites it has. I'm just guessing it does this and something bad happens during the scan. But that's pure speculation on my part.

 

[MilesAhead]

I found something similar for IE 7
Hyperlinks not working sometimes in IE favorites | Wilders Security Forums

 

[Erock]

Ok, my latest suspect is CCLEANER mentioned in one of those posts. I just ran it and immediately one of my links broke!

I updated the software to a newer version and will now monitor what actually occurs straight after when I run it. Will give an update when I have some more info. Thanks for all help so far.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Ok, my latest suspect is CCLEANER mentioned in one of those posts. I just ran it and immediately one of my links broke!

I updated the software to a newer version and will now monitor what actually occurs straight after when I run it. Will give an update when I have some more info. Thanks for all help so far.

Are you using CCEnhancer with CCleaner?

Maybe we can use Process Monitor mentioned in post #8... if you want to know if it is CCleaner or if CCleaner triggers some other app to make the change. If you can force it to happen in a repeatable manner, then we probably don't need a script.

 

[Erock]

Are you using CCEnhancer with CCleaner?

No. Should I be?

Maybe we can use Process Monitor mentioned in post #8... if you want to know if it is CCleaner or if CCleaner triggers some other app to make the change. If you can force it to happen in a repeatable manner, then we probably don't need a script.

I will see if the new CCLEANER causes this. Trying to find ways to break the links Will update in a few days.

 

[UsernameIssues]

As its name implies, CCEnhancer enhances or adds additional levels of cleaning to CCleaner. These enhancements can be setup by the user. From what I've read, the user can get the settings wrong and cause weird things to happen. Hence my asking if you were using CCEnhancer.

And after this issue is solved, you can use CCEnhancer if you want. I've never used CCEnhancer, so I'm not recommending it or speaking out against it. I was just checking to see if settings within that app could have been the cause of your issue.

 

[Erock]

A new piece of info. I haven't even run CCLEANER and one of the usual links broke.

I copied in from the backup lib - which works. When pasting the new one, whether overwriting or deleting and adding, it doesn't work, still broken.

Basically a working link in the backup lib in my user directory, doesn't work when copied to Favourites library.

Does that help in potential diagnostic? I suspect now that my USER is corrupted somehow.


And more! I created a complete Favourites copy. The link works in there and when I went back to Favourites original, the link started working again! I give up, it's a head banger.

 

[UsernameIssues]

A new piece of info. I haven't even run CCLEANER and one of the usual links broke....

Good to know that CCleaner is not the issue.

...I copied in from the backup lib - which works. When pasting the new one, whether overwriting or deleting and adding, it doesn't work, still broken....

Wait - how did you determine that it works?
Did you double click on that shortcut while it was in he backup lib?
Or did you open/check it in notepad?
If you double clicked on it...
...then it could have been changed right then
...before you copied it to your favorites.


If you want to create a new user profile - but the issue might start happening again since we don't know the app that is causing this.