Windows 10: Explorer.exe works--but not from shortcut icon or Start menu

This problem began under Win 7, and carried through to my Win 10 update.

I have shortcuts that let me open specific folders with Explorer, and they work fine. But clicking the taskbar Explorer icon or its icon in the start menu gets me an error message "this file does not have a program associated ..." (see attached).

Following a tip elsewhere, I was told to look in HKEY_CLASSES_Root\folder\shell, and got "value not set" on one line (see attached). Is that the cause of my problem? If so, how do I fix it?

I assume there might be a fix using File Associations, but I have no idea what to associate Explorer with.

:)

 

Windows 10 Desktop App icon

OK, After more research on the internet I figured out how to do this so I'll provide the solution in case someone else has this problem...

Right click on the desktop and click on New > Shortcut

Paste this code in the "Type the location of the item" box:

%windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}

Name the shortcut Desktop

Right click on the shortcut, select Properties, Shortcut tab and Change Icon button

Look for Icons in this file: %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll

Select an appropriate icon and click OK.

Move the new shortcut to this folder in your user account folder:

AppData > Roaming > Microsoft > Start Menu > Programs

This will cause the shortcut to show up in the All Apps Start Menu

Open All Apps, right click on Desktop, pin to Start

I believe the problem is that the shortcut was not pointing to %windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}
since the shortcut was in the right folder but it wasn't doing anything.

 

start-menu items & edge wont open

W10: When tapping edge icon on task bar, failmessage with heading explorer.exe, and text; element not found appears.

Start menu shortcuts to edge, mail, pictures etc does not work, and seems not to react, but excel and paint etc is working.

Itunes opens, but does not play video, or stops after short time.

???

Christer

 

My Registry entry looks just like yours.
Try the Fie Association Fix For Windows 10: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/fi...es-windows-10/

 

Or use the one here at tenforums: Default File Type Associations - Restore in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Try the .lnk and .exe associations fixes.