Hi!
I just ran CCleaner and it appears that the shortcuts for apps and programs on my desktop won't work. The icons are there, but nothing happens when I try to open them. I've recreated a few, but I also can't delete the old ones. I would appreciate some help! Thanks!
For information:
What Windows version are you using?
If you have an Antivirus installed (other than Windows Defender) what its it and what version?
If you right-click on one of the 'broken' shortcuts, and click Options then the Shortcut tab, does the target still point to where the .exe file is?
eg. This is the CCleaner shortcut on my desktop:
I'm running Windows 11 and use Trend Micro, version 17.7.18257. I am not able to right click on any of the broken icons and can't delete them either.
Sorry, the version is 17.7.1827
7 hours ago, clarek said:<div class="ipsQuote_contents ipsClearfix" data-gramm="false"> <p> I'm running Windows 11 and use Trend Micro, version 17.7.18257. I am not able to right click on any of the broken icons and can't delete them either. </p> </div>
I don't know just what has happened here, Desktop Icons can get broken for various reasons (including an AV update interfering with them).
First things first, do a 'Restart' of your machine - Not a 'Shutdown' ; a 'Restart' can clear more.
Next if they are still there and still broken there's a few things you can do to fix it here:
https://windowsreport.com/windows-8-1-shortcuts-working/
If you decide just to recreate the shortcuts then you still have the issue of removing the broken ones.
If the broken icons are still there then Custom Clean can clean up broken Desktop Shortcuts - so it may be worth seeing if it finds them.
If the shortcut is still valid then Custom Clean will leave it alone. (Health Check won't touch even the broken ones).
In CCleaner right-click on 'Desktop Shortcuts' (it doesn't need to be ticked) and 'Analyze'.
If it finds them then you can right-click again and 'Clean' the ones it has found.
(You can see an Ananlze just found 2 for me here. I know what they were, something that I'd removed and hadn't realised the shortcuts had been left behind without any icons).
You might also want to rebuild the Windows icon cache: https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/rebuild-icon-cache-windows-11.html
Thanks, nukecad - I'll give it a whirl!
@clarek
Did you clean the registry?
I believe I did, and I don't think I've ever done it before.
1 hour ago, clarek said:<div class="ipsQuote_contents ipsClearfix" data-gramm="false"> <p> I believe I did, and I don't think I've ever done it before. </p> </div>
Did you make a backup when offered the chance to do so?
I did.
Unfortunately using the registry cleaner is not such a good idea, especially on Win 11 which is work in progress really.
Have you tried merging the backup you made?
I read the article and I'm totally lost.
Which article has lost you?
(I've linked 2 and Hazelnut linked a 3rd).
The one about restoring registry backups. I follow those instructions and I don't see any changes. Do I need to restart?
Ok, Guys, so I restarted again, and I think I might be fixed. OMG!! Thank you so much!
Good, a Restart clears a lot of things in Windows and it's the simplest thing to do.
A lot of people these days leave their computers on all the time.
Some let them 'Sleep' or 'Hibernate' when they have finished using it.
Some 'Shutdown' when they have finished using it.
But all of those save something from what Windows was running/doing/had-been-set.
So with Windows 8, 10 & 11 a 'Restart' is a good idea at least weekly to give things a fresh start.
Thanks for that tip, Nukecad!
PS. You might still want to do the 'Desktop Shortcuts' clean I outlined above, just in case it does find some broken links that can now be removed.
Will do - thank!
Glad the reg restore worked along with a full restart of machine.
Don't do reg cleaning anymore especially on Win 11