Windows Explorer does not follow Symbolic Links

[Shoaler]

I have several symbolic links (SYMLINKS) to php files. Until recently when I clicked on the symbolic link, Windows would follow the link and open the php file with an editor. Now it doesn't seem to follow the link in resolving the file extension: it asks me to "Choose the program you want to use to open this file." When I select my editor, it opens the file properly. But next time it asks me again to choose. (Yes, I have "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" checked.) Any thoughts?

 

[JohnPC]

Hello,
You might have installed something else recently that may have messed up your default file associations. Have you tried using the Control Panel > Default Programs?
This is a link to an interesting tutorial on the subject in this forum as well.
Regards-

 

[torrontes]

Same problem here. And yeah, I have installed something: the latest Windows update. I know that's the cause, because I noticed the problem on one computer. Then checked on a different one, and no problem there. I immediately applied Windows update to the second machine, and... bam! Explorer no longer resolves symbolic links. Other programs deal with links just fine, but not explorer or alternative file browsers that avail themselves of the services provided by the Windows shell. Bravo Microsoft!

 

[Pyprohly]

I experience the same problem too.

With a System Restore to a earlier date, I was not able to duplicate this issue, thus I can positively confirm that there currently stands a bug with regards to Symbolic Link behaviour in Windows Explorer, introduced after a recent Windows 7 update.

As a work-around for now: if you would like to navigate to a linked file through Explorer, and you require a programme to access that link, consider using a Hardlink.

If you absolutely require Symbolic Links to function properly under Explorer, you may choose to System Restore to an earlier date.

 

[Circle]

"Symbolic links?" "Choose * program * open * file" -linux

I'm having issues too. Searching using the above query in this post title yields this as the only search result, and it's only a few days old, possibly further suggesting it was a recent update.

My issue is that when pointed to an executable causes the "Choose a program" dialog. They do appear to be working for other file types.

From 3/12/2015 to 3/26/2015 the only update, besides MSE Definitions, was KB2952664 installed on 3/24/2015. The update was released on 4/16/2014 but Microsoft has continued to silently re-release it every few months. Nobody seems to know what it does.

On 3/12/2015, 45 Updates were installed. The logs show KB2952664 was to be included but failed. It was successfully installed until 3/24/2015. Going through my logs show's that this update continually installs then a few days later (Once even just hours later) uninstalls itself? Here's what I'm seeing.

• Installed: 03/24/15 - <06 Reboots Later> - Exists as of: 03/26/15 - <07 Reboots>
• Installed: 02/12/15 - <17 Reboots Later> - Uninstalled: 03/12/15 - <01 Reboots Later>
• Installed: 12/10/14 - <12 Reboots Later> - Uninstalled: 12/10/14 - <35 Reboots Later>
  • Shortest Runtime:33s ○ 8 Uptimes<=25min ○ Installed 14hrs Total
• Installed: 11/12/14 - <03 Reboots Later> - Uninstalled: 11/24/14 - <05 Reboots Later>
• Installed: 10/16/14 - <Insuffi. Log Data> - Uninstalled: 10/23/14 - <05 Reboots Later>
• ReInstld: 09/10/14 - <Insuffi. Log Data> - Uninstalled: 10/07/14 - <No Data>
• ReInstld: 08/26/14 - <Insuffi. Log Data> - Was a Direct Upgrade - <No Data>
• ReInstld: 05/20/14 - <Insuffi. Log Data> - Was a Direct Upgrade - <No Data>

So what do you guys think? It will uninstall itself again and everything will go back to normal? Was it some other update?

I can't rollback using System Restore.

 

[Shoes]

I've just ran Windows Update and now all my Symbolic links from within Explorer are broken - each opening the "Open With" dialog box.
Rolling back with System Restore isn't an option for me. I last used Windows Update around Feb 2015 but since then there's been a lot of updates. I have no idea which one broke symlinks

@Circle, installing/uninstalling KB2952664 seems to have no effect. Perhaps that update is related to Windows 10 compatibility upgrader, GWX?

Edit:
According to this thread it was KB3039066 which broke symbolic links! I've just uninstalled it (you must restart Windows for it to take effect) and my symlinks are no longer redundant!

 

[torrontes]

According to this thread it was KB3039066 which broke symbolic links! I've just uninstalled it (you must restart Windows for it to take effect) and my symlinks are no longer redundant!

Yesssssss!!!! It works! Thanks for the tip!

 

[fred543]

Broken again with KB3079757 (replaces KB3039066).

 

[Neville99]

Hello all, i see this is quite an old thread but I thought I would respond anyway. Symlinks as of 12/8/16 were not working for us when calling Java. Mklink did not create the symlinks when viewing through Windows explorer. However when opening a command prompt, and browsing to the directory and running a dir commnad. The command prompt was showing the symlinks as successfully being created. As a test i took the command line from our shortcut target path and entered it into the command line. The applications successfully launched. When clicking on the shortcut file I'd get a file not found since it was looking for the symlink. As a work around you could create a batch file to call the symlink, or if you're using a shortcut pointed to the symlink, edit the shortcut properties and at the beginning of the target path enter cmd /c at the beginning of the target path followed by a space and the rest of your command.

On another note updates installed on 12/13/16 resolved the issue w/ Windows explorer not showing the files as symlinks.

Thought this might help someone.

 

[Shoaler]

Broken again with KB3079757 (replaces KB3039066).

After installing a batch of back updates I see this is broken again. Does anyone know which update broke it this time?

Thanks.