Start Menu icons showing as .ink files

[A3Paper]

Hi,

Most programs within Start > All Programs are showing as blank .ink files (see screenshot attached).

Tried the following:
- Rebuilding icon cache as per http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html
- Deleting HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\File Exts\.Ink\UserChoice

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[Ztruker]

That's .lnk (LNK) which is a link or shortcut That's what it should be.

What problem are you having.

 

[remm]

Might try a right-click on the Windows Orb -> Properties -> Start Menu tab -> untick "Store and display recently used programs in the Start menu" ... click APPLY. Change the setting back, click APPLY again... see if it restored the Start Menu programs to showing their icons.

 

[A3Paper]

A little more info:
The files that are showing as .lnk appears to be all shortcuts within the Start > All Programs folder and anything within Control Panel. Shortcuts on the Desktop and Task Bar are fine. To open files such as notepad or calculator, we have to go to Start and enter "Notepad.exe" in the search bar instead of just "Notepad".
- When we click to open the .lnk files nothing happens.
- This is also an issue for all users on this computer.

Tried:
- System Restore to the earliest point (1 month ago). This must have been an issue before then.
- Tried the manual way of rebuilding icon cache.
- Exported 19 registries from my own machine and imported on the users machine.
- Right clicking the Start Menu, Customize, Use Default Settings.
- Tried a few other scripts found online that more or less do the same thing as cache rebuilding and registry changes.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[remm]

I know the DT shortcuts are working, but have you looked at this?

 

[Ztruker]

Try merging this LNK registry info found here: Restore Default Windows 7 File Extension Type Associations

 

[A3Paper]

Sorry for the late reply. The user was unavailable for 2 weeks.

Tried both suggestions above however no joy. We're imaging the laptop to resolve.

Would have liked to have got to the bottom of this one, but never-mind!! I appreciate the assistance given, so thank you.