Windows 10: Cannot open desktop icons or create valid shortcuts

Since the last win 10 update, my desktop Folder icons do not work right. When I left click I get this




when I right click I get this



The only way I can open a folder (such as Downloads) is to right click, then select open.

I have tried creating new shortcuts and they do not work. Regular program shortcuts work fine.
If I create a new short cut to a file, (ie a photo), I have to right click and select OPEN to view the file, then when I create a shortcut, it does not work unless I right click and select open.

I restored system to earlier date and all is well. When restarting computer I get force fed update.
Selecting NEW from context menu was not there. I fixed that. Why come I get cmd when I try to open a folder??

All assistance will be gratefully appreciated.

:)

 

How do I create a short cut for website in Windows10?

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

If you are using Edge, you cannot create a shortcut of webpage on to the desktop, instead, you can
Pin to the start.

If you want to create a shortcut, please use Internet Explorer.

• 
  On the startmenu, click
  All apps, click Internet Explorer.
  
• 
  Open the website that you want to create a shortcut, resize your browser so you can see the browser and your desktop in the same screen.
  
• 
  Left click the icon located to the left side of the address bar. This is where you see the full URL to the website.
  
• 
  Continue to hold down the mouse button and drag the icon to your desktop. This creates the shortcut.
  
• 
  Create a Desktop Shortcut to a Website.
  

Hope this helps.

 

Shortcut Links to EXEs don't work [was: cannot launch previous apps]

That troubleshooter said I had proxy issues which were fixed.

I rebooted, and checked functionality anyways and the issue still persists.

The only thing that works when clicking on it's icon is Edge and Power.

I right click the desktop, New, Shortcut and browse to a working executable file and created the desktop shortcut. When I double clicked on the new valid shortcut, nothing happens.

HELP!

 

Hello Chuck, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

If you like, download and merge the .reg file for the listed lnk item in OPTION TWO of the tutorial. It will restore the default associations and registry entries for shortcuts (LNK files) that hopefully fix this for you.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/8...dows-10-a.html

 

I followed the instructions and all to no avail. I did find I could not open any folder anywhere on the computer with the usual left double click. I keep getting


.

and the "cmd" is still the top word if I right click.

any thoughts on what can cause this?

Thanks

 

Since this is happening with folders and not with shortcuts, download and merge the .reg files for the listed folder and directory items in the same tutorial instead. *Smile

 

Something messed up my registry really bad, at any rate, thanks to your assistance, my system is now in working order. I did save almost all your .reg files in my utilities folder. The problem affected the desktop icons, no matter what they were. Even the shortcuts to the drives did not function.
You should be elevated to Windows Saint Brink