Solved All pinned programs to start menu are gone

[Amon]

All my programs pinned to start menu are gone (about 7-8 of them) are gone. I can't pin new items to start menu or pin some programs to taskbar either

This happened after i uninstalled Hotspot Shield using Revo Uninstaller.

Before this happened, i couldn't pin programs to start menu for a while.

Once while installing a program i got Warning 1909 Can't create .lnk error message

I also get a explorer.exe could not create shortcut error message

I am using Windows 7 32bit.

How do i resolve this please?

 

[ethel]

Hi Amon, Welcome to 7 forums. Could you provide your system information from the link below please?


System Info - See Your System Specs

 

[Amon]

Done.

 

[ethel]

Hi Amon, Could you run the system file checker from the below link.


SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

 

[ethel]

Hi Amon, Could you also post the Windows Edition you have


Click Start Orb

Right click computer

Click properties, and it will show up the top the Windows Edition.

 

[bawldiggle]

For what it is worth ...
Reading the wiki Hotspot Shield it looks like HotpotShield might have security holes. maybe you have infections.

Recently I used Revouninstaller PRO to uninstall "usbSafelyRemove", now one of my PCs is without any safely remove and no Eject on WinExp Context Menu.

A clean reinstall is my only solution

Pardon my intrusion Ethel ... over to you

 

[ethel]

Hi bawldiggle, You are not intruding at all. Anything anyone else has to offer may help, as I have not used

these other programs.

 

[Amon]

I ran the SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker.

I got Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

Windows Edition is Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit Service Pack 1

 

[ethel]

Hello Amon, Below is a tutorial by Brink to pin to startmenu.



Start Menu - Pin or Unpin a Program to

 

[ethel]

Hi Amon, I meant to add this tutorial in case you are still not able to pin to start menu.



How to Restore Missing "Pin to Taskbar" and "Pin to Start Menu" Context Menu Items in Windows 7 Shortcuts

 

[bawldiggle]

@ Amon

Any success ?

 

[Amon]

Hi ethel, i tried the above tutorials and it did not solve the issue.
bawldiggle no

 

[ethel]

Hi Amon, Here is one more tutorial to try, hope for success.



Start Menu All Programs in Windows 7 - Restore Default Shortcuts

 

[ethel]

Hi Amon, I run Malwarebytes Adware Cleaner every now and then, it is harmless, you could also try this.




https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleanerhttps://www.bing.com/search?q=malwa...-7&sk=&cvid=31306989EBFE4B659D66AE5B74782ECE#

 

[Amon]

Hi Amon, Here is one more tutorial to try, hope for success.



Start Menu All Programs in Windows 7 - Restore Default Shortcuts

Hi Ethel, thanks for replying I went through the tutorial and downloaded the zip file. I found out it is for the All Programs list which was already there. The all programs list was not affected in anyway.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Amon mate the sfc some advise it run for three runs try that and if there is nothing up try these please

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Disk Check < if necessary include the /f switch and if this does not makeany improvement then just run this switch instead /r in the commandline as per Option2 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Runthese in safe mode and the sfc often best run for two to three runs –you can leave out the /r switch in ckdsk if you feel it not necessary[/FONT]




[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]ifno fix then these [/FONT]




[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.superantispyware.com/ [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ (now owned by Malwarebytes I believe but still run it) [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]ADWdownload from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with themalware scans[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif](NBIf you are running Kaspersky as the main AV then it might needdisabling it when trying ADW because it does not like it at times)[/FONT]
Now if the Malwarebytes runs the paid for version as they are offering it for a two week tria then it mya like Kaspersky as mentioned not play with your own AV l

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Just out of interest the machine looks to be of a reasonable age and for Ultimate 2GB RAM is a tad on the low side (in my mind) I would personally run 4GB but that is a by the by to your issue - or not? [/FONT]

 

[Anak]

Hi,

Take a look at this thread the original poster's (OP's) problem appears to be the same as yours, and the number 7 post by Bill2 offers a solution, you can follow his instruction but check Brink's tutorial for more insight.

I'd try options Two or Three in the tutorial that Brink edited in since your having problems with the jump list and not just one particular program. Brink's .bat file in option two does what Bill2 instructs, only automatically.

If you use option three, remember to:

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

6. Your jump lists have been reset and cleared to be empty now. It may take a day or two afterwards before the jump lists repopulate.

Source: Jump Lists - Reset and Clear All Items

Hope to hear from you in a couple of days or sooner for an update.

 

[Amon]

Hi everyone, sorry for the late reply

You guys must be doing some funky magic because i am able to pin programs in the start menu once again! YAY!!

I did a second SFC /SCANNOW and got the same result -" Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations".

But just like that i went through the start menu > All programs and right clicked some programs and did the pin to start menu option.

And it worked! .

I feel so happy thank you!!!


It is not completely rectified though. I went to the C:\Program Files, right clicked some programs to add to start menu and it did not work.

I want to add the ProcessXP program to either the taskbar or start menu, but it doesn't work.

I was thinking maybe add shortcuts in the All Programs list and try and pin them from there. Where is the All Programs folder located ?

Thank You

Edit 1: I did not try out the solution in the above post #17


Edit 2 : The technique of adding shortcuts to C:\Users\***\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs is working for me now .

 

[ethel]

Hello Amon, I am glad things are starting to improve. Here are 2 places where the program files are located.

Start Menu, right click Open all Users, Programs

C/Program Data/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs

Hope this helps you

 

[bawldiggle]

Well done

Edit 2 : The technique of adding shortcuts to C:\Users\***\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs is working for me now .

You can add shortcuts and folders to Start menu and Start -> Programs by right clicking in those menus/lists
without drilling down into C:Users etc

A tip: don't RClick on existing sub-menu (folders) items other wise you will create a shortcut inside the sub menu.
If a new list item does not end up where you expected, it can be LMouse dragged to a new location.

It takes a bit of practice, but I am sure you will get the hang of it