Solved No longer able to add desktop shortcuts to websites

[rrpdmd]

Without warning, the usual way of adding a desktop link or folder stopped working properly. I still go through the same setup steps, (right click - new - folder etc) and an icon of sorts (smaller) appears, but when you dbl click it to open, it only opens a window with text about the link. Anyone have this problem? Using Chrome browser.

 

[nooruddin76]

Couldn't get what your saying .. explain a bit more

 

[rrpdmd]

re: reply. Cant put shortcuts icons on desktop

Thanks for the reply. Here are the details.

OK, whenever I want to put a shortcut/link to a website, or maybe a folder containing several shortcuts, I have always been able to right click on my desktop, a menu opens, I click "new", another menu opens, I typically click on either "shortcut" or "folder". I'm prompted to enter the location (URL or windows location) then I enter the name I'd like to call the shortcut. Instantly a new icon appears on the desktop. As long as I can remember, a generic Chrome Logo icon with a shortcut arrow on it appears on the desktop, with the name I selected beneath it. I could simply double click the icon, and it opened the browser and took me straight to the web page.

Simple enough, right?

But as of a few weeks ago, if I try to add a shortcut to a web page on the desktop, I go through the identical steps, and a similar icon appears. But two things are different: The icon itself is much smaller, and when you double click on it to go to the web page, it doesn't take you to the web at all, or open the browser. All that happens is a window appears with some brief text detail about the URL. No error messages. It opens as if that was what I wanted. I've done this for 20 years or so, so it isn't new to me. The process just no longer works properly. Chrome can't help. Windows won't respond.

Does that clarify? Can you help?

 

[Jacee]

Can you add the web page to your 'Favorites'?

 

[DavidE]

Right Click on the Icon and click Properties.
See what it shows ...
I just added a shortcut for a web address and the screen prints show what I see for Properties.

This tutorial explains how you can add screen prints to your SF posts:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[Jacee]

You could also try restoring http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html#post208633
Scroll down to lnk - Shortcut link (LNK) files.

 

[rrpdmd]

re: reply. Cant put shortcuts icons on desktop

Jacee: Yes, I can save any page to bookmarks/favorites

DavidW7ncus: Great difficulty getting print screen to work. I'll keep trying.

Thanks to both of you for trying to help me out.

 

[rrpdmd]

DavidW7ncus --
Here is the new shortcut I made to NBC Nightly News. NBC News - Breaking News & Top Stories - Latest World, US & Local News. Same problems occurred.

Screen shots (4) :
Icon, Icon Properties (General tab), Icon Properties (Details tab), and the window that opens when the icon is double-clicked.

Jacee - I don't know how to find the "restore file type associations". I hope the screenshots help.

 

[DavidE]

It looks like something is wrong with the way the shortcut is created for you.

My Shortcut:
1) Type of file = Internet Shortcut (.url)
2) I have a "Web Document" tab
3) I don't have a "Blank" tab

Your Shortcut:
1) Type of file = URL File (.url)
2) You don't have a "Web Document" tab
3) You do have a "Blank" tab

I don't know what would cause this, or if restoring Default File Type Associations suggested by Jacee would fix it.

If you have a Restore Point from before the problem started, that might fix it.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

I'll ask others to look at this and see if they can help.

 

[rrpdmd]

I was hoping to avoid a system restore, but it isn't that big of a deal if I have to do it. I just can't remember exactly how long ago it started, or if I have an appropriate restore point, to avoid removing important programs.

I assume you have Win7 too, but I have never seen a "web document" tab. Do you mean it is a tab in the properties window, like 'general' or details' ? Because if you noticed, one of the tabs is blank now. I've never seen that before, and it seems to have appeared (or disappeared) around the same time as the main issue began. Also, using 'Print Screen' didn't really work, unless I was supposed to just save the file. I tried the Snippet thing for the first time, and it was simple to use.

Can you tell me anything more about the 'Restore File Associations' process? Or will the link Jacee gave me contain all of the info I need? I'll have to get back to it in an hour or so, or I'd look into it now.
Thanks again -

 

[DavidE]

The Blank tab you have makes me wonder if you don't have more "System Issues", or malware ...
What do you see in the Blank tab?
Just guessing here ...

 

[rrpdmd]

Sorry - it appears I just repeated alot of the info you put in your post. But the 'web document' option is confusing. Maybe an aspect of win7 wasn't installed.
Hopefully we'll get more input, but I do appreciate the help.

 

[rrpdmd]

 

[Kari]

Deleted my post, mys response was not valid. Sorry.

 

[rrpdmd]

Kari-
I know about entering the entire url when prompted for the location. After entering the url location and clicking the 'next' button, I enter the name I want to display on the screen under the icon. I've entered NBC News - Breaking News & Top Stories - Latest World, US & Local News as the location each time, in this example.

 

[DavidE]

Also, using 'Print Screen' didn't really work, unless I was supposed to just save the file.

When you use the print screen Keyboard button, you have to do a paste into a program.
I usually paste into Windows Paint, but many other programs can be used such as MS Word.

 

[Ztruker]

I may be missing something in this discussion, but when I want to create a Desktop link to a URL, I simply browse to the URL I'm interested in then left click on the little icon to the left of the URL address and dr4ag it to the desktop.

 

[DavidE]

It would be interesting to see if the OP gets a different type of shortcut creating it that way.

 

[rrpdmd]

(not sure if this was posted or not. If it is a repeat, just ignore it.)

Success! I opened the shortcut's properties window again, and changed the 'open with' option to Chrome. Then I used the file association link Jacee gave me, and restored the default file association to the url extension.

Tested it.... dbl-clicked and there it was! Chrome opened, and NBC News was on the screen. I love when things work.
THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU!

 

[DavidE]

Great, glad to hear you have it fixed!
Thanks for posting back with the solution.