[SOLVED] explorer.exe shortcut not working

[Ghia]

Hi,
I'm running windows 7 x64.
For a while, the shortcut on the Start menu to explorer.exe is not working.
I get the "This file has no program associated with it..." message.

Obviously the prgram itself is working fine, since I have my desktop, icons and everything, and I see it in Task Manager.
I can also open "Computer" from Start.
But if I go to the explorer.exe in C:\Windows, I get same error.

I have looked all over, trying to find a solution. I have tried the .exe file association registry file from MS, it didn't help.
Also tried a number of other suggested reg fixes with no result.
I miss this function, and would like to avoid trying my old restore points...is there anything that can be done ?

 

[jcgriff2]

Hi. . .

I would suggest that you run Windows System Restore.

First, create a restore point so that you can revert to the present, if you wish to do so (after restoring your system), then restore your system using the most recent restore point or one that pre-dates this problem with Explorer.

Windows System Restore - Create a Restore Point (Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 & Vista)

Windows System Restore - Restore your System (Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 & Vista)

Also, I'd like to get some system files from you, if you don't mind, which includes Event Viewer Log entries, so that I can see if there is anything evident that is wrong.

Don't be concerned with "BSOD" that you'll see everywhere. The Sysnative app that you'll be running in step #1 simply runs about 2 dozen Windows executables (apps) and saves their output. It is mostly run by those with BSOD problems, but is also used for general troubleshooting issues like we're doing here.

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions - Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 + Vista

Please attach the Sysnative zip file to your next post. There is no need to create a new thread per the BSOD Posting Instructions. Thank you.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

EDIT: The possibility exists that we may be dealing with a corrupted user profile. For that reason, I want you to try Explorer using a different user profile.

If you only have one user profile (user account) on your system, go ahead and activate the Hidden Administrator User Account for testing purposes only.

Instructions to activate/de-activate the account - Enable/ Disable the Hidden Administrator User Account (Windows 8.1 / 8 / 7 / Vista)

After activating the account, logoff your user account. You'll then be taken to the logon screen where a user account named simply "Administrator" will be waiting for you. Click on it; no password is required.

Maneuver around your system, specifically looking for the Explorer shortcut that is not currently working and see if it works.

 

[Ghia]

Hi, and thank you for assisting me.
Sorry this took a bit of time. I had some trouble getting Windows to revert to my current system restore point.
My oldest restore point from 5th July didn't make any difference.
I also ran Malwarebytes without finding any viruses.
I should also mention that I ran System File Checker and studied autoruns before posting here.
I had tried the Guest account before, now also tried the hidden Administrator account....no change.

The Start Menu icon for explorer.exe points to %windir%\explorer.exe. If I change this to %windir%\explorer.exe shellrofile, the icon works.
Even if I now have a working icon and taskbar shortcut, it doesn't explain why explorer.exe in C:Windows does not work.

attached : SysnativeFileCollectionApp.zip

 

[Ghia]

I should add that I built this PC myself in December of 2013.
You see the system specs in my sig.
OS is Win7 Sp.1 x64, and has been running since the machine was built (never re-installed).

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Hi!
Did SFC come clean?
I'm seeing reports of an unsucessful driver install. Could we get a screenshot of your Device Manager fully expanded please?
I'm also seeing a recent Windows Update failure report. Are there any updates needed to be installed?

 

[Ghia]

@softwaremaniac : The "failed" update was cancelled by me by mistake (this month's .NET update). Just hadn't gone back to install it. Have done so now.
Otherwise I have had no update failures since you helped me back in April
SFC was/is clean, yes.
Can you pinpoint what kind of driver install you find as failed ? I recently got a new keyboard and mouse, and had some problems with their drivers.

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Then the keyboard/mouse drivers were the most likely cause of the errors.

Please create a system restore point then download this file: 403 Forbidden

Extract it and right-click the folder_fix_w7.reg file and select Merge. When asked to confirm, please do.

Restart the machine and let me know if your issue persists.

 

[Ghia]

Was that meant to do exactly the same thing I did manually, i.e. changing the icon target to %windir%\explorer.exe shellrofile ?
That works, as I found out. But the normal/default target is %windir%\explorer.exe ?

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

This restores the registry values related to folders to their default values. These do include some shell modifications, yes.

But the normal/default target is %windir%\explorer.exe ?

What do you mean by this?

 

[Ghia]

This restores the registry values related to folders to their default values. These do include some shell modifications, yes.

But the normal/default target is %windir%\explorer.exe ?

What do you mean by this?

Just that the default target for explorer.exe is %windir%\explorer.exe (or %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe) without any shell command.

 

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

Just one question, by any chance did you apply some reg tweak or use some tool to disable the Libraries?

 

[Ghia]

@SleepyDude: No, I have never done anything to disable Libraries. But I discovered that the Shellfolder in registry was empty, so I added Attributes now for the default view of Libraries (it didn't open before, naturally).
What I added was : [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:b080010d


I haven't missed the contents of the Libraries folder, as I never use it. And since the icon was still there, I never discovered that the folder was dysfunctional...so I never investigated this.
So you put your finger on it, I think...tnx !! Now everything works as it is supposed to...can even start explorer.exe from the default location at %windir%\explorer.exe if I want to.

 

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

@SleepyDude: No, I have never done anything to disable Libraries. But I discovered that the Shellfolder in registry was empty, so I added Attributes now for the default view of Libraries (it didn't open before, naturally).
What I added was : [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:b080010d


I haven't missed the contents of the Libraries folder, as I never use it. And since the icon was still there, I never discovered that the folder was dysfunctional...so I never investigated this.
So you put your finger on it, I think...tnx !! Now everything works as it is supposed to...can even start explorer.exe from the default location at %windir%\explorer.exe if I want to.

Good job hunting the problem. I remember of Libraries because by default Explorer opens that...

Thank you for posting the solution :thumbsup2:

 

[Ghia]

Added bonus : this also fixed the Start Menu search function, which I had given up on a long time ago.. :1grin:

 

[SleepyDude]

Added bonus : this also fixed the Start Menu search function, which I had given up on a long time ago.. :1grin:

Very good

 

[jcgriff2]

I agree - excellent job on finding the solution.

Thank you very much for posting the solution.

Regards. . .

John