Shortcut Arrow - Change, Remove, or Restore

Brink · 10 Aug 2013

Yoyodude1124 said:

If I delete the Shell Icons key, will it restore the default arrow, or will it cause problems?

Hello Yoyodude,

If you only have the 29 string value in the Shell Icons key, then it's not going to hurt anything to delete Shell Icons. It will just use the default icon when it's deleted and you log off/on or restart the computer to apply. :)

Keithuk · 10 Aug 2013

Hi Brink.

May be so but if you uninstall it the short-cut arrows come back so whats the point in installing it in the first place the OPTION3 does it perfectly

Brink · 10 Aug 2013

Hey Keith,

Odd. So far uninstalling the program has never undone the changes I made with it. I prefer to not use a program as well, but just included it for those that may not be comfortable using the other options.

Either way, it's all about what works best for you though. :)

Yoyodude1124 · 10 Aug 2013

Brink said:

Yoyodude1124 said:

If I delete the Shell Icons key, will it restore the default arrow, or will it cause problems?

Hello Yoyodude,

If you only have the 29 string value in the Shell Icons key, then it's not going to hurt anything to delete Shell Icons. It will just use the default icon when it's deleted and you log off/on or restart the computer to apply. :)

Thanks! Does the program shown in the post just add the registry values? or does it do something else?

Brink · 10 Aug 2013

Yoyodude,

Correct, the program just adds the same 29 registry string value entry with an icon location as OPTION TWO.

SimonR · 27 Aug 2013

Hi, I'm having trouble with the Vista Shortcut Manager app, and I don't really know how to proceed. What happens is, when I apply the app, with the 'No Arrows' option, I get an error message (see attached). If I click Details, I get a load of stuff that means nothing to me, but I copied it anyway, in case it's of any use:

Code:

See the end of this message for details on invoking 
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified
at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
at VistaArrowGone.Form1.btApply_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5472 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
FxVisor
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Frameworkx/Vista%20Shortcut%20Manager/FxVisor.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5468 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5467 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5476 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5476 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
Accessibility
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Accessibility/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Accessibility.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

If I click Continue in the error box, the error box just pops up again. If I click Quit, the application closes, but then I have to manually log off and on again, or reboot. The shortcut arrows have been removed, as I wanted, but although my desktop icons display perfectly, any Shortcuts when viewing in Windows Explorer, have black boxes instead of the icon.

I don't really want to start messing with registry keys, until I know what's going on with the Vista Shortcut Manager app, as this also happened when I tried to use the Ultimate Windows Tweaker, so it appears to be something on my machine, (or, perhaps the something that's operating it!) rather than the apps themselves. I have tried VSM in Administrator mode, and still the same thing happens. This is a new (1 week old) installation of Windows 7. Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Simon.

Brink · 27 Aug 2013

Hello Simon,

Are you sure that you downloaded the 32-bit version of the program?

If so, then you might see if right clicking on it's shortcut, and clicking on "Run as administrator" may help.

If you like, OPTION THREE is another good choice when you do not want the arrow without having to go into Registry Editor.

SimonR · 27 Aug 2013

Hi,

I downloaded the app from the link at the start of this thread, but I will double check it later. On my phone at the moment. :)

I don't really want to try other options until this issue is rectified, as even if I use VSM to replace the arrow, I get the error message again, and the black boxes remain.

SimonR · 27 Aug 2013

Hi Brink,

Well, nothing seems to be working properly for me. I uninstalled the initial installation of VSM, and upon rebooting, got a desktop full of 'Folder' icons on top of my normal icons. I then used Rebuild_Icon_Cache, which I got from here somewhere, which did what it said on the tin, but I was then left with all the shortcut arrows back.

I then tried with a new installation of VSM, and exactly the same thing happened, with the error message, and the black boxes on shortcut icons inside folders (but not on the Desktop - they were OK). I reverted back to 'With Arrows' using VSM, got the error message again, but it did restore my icons.

I then tried Option Three, followed the instructions to the letter, but once again, when I rebooted, the shortcut arrows had been replaced by 'Folder' icons on top of my Desktop icons. With some exasperation, I used Rebuild_Icon_Cache again (the Reg thing), and this time, it has rebuilt my Desktop icons, with NO shortcut arrows, but I'm still getting the black boxes inside folders.

Curiously, the 'Blank.ico', which has been Unlocked, and is in C:\Windows, is also displaying as a black box now, but it didn't when I opened the file initially.

What the heck is going on here??

Brink · 27 Aug 2013

Sounds like you might have some sort of permissions issue. As test, enable the built-in "elevated" Administrator account, then try this again while logged in to that account to see how it works.