Windows 10: How to expose *.lnk and other valid shortcut extensions

this is maddening folks, and I don't know a category here at tenforums that works for the question.
I am having to go through every file due to a really bad problem with copy integrity, so using tools to fetch and order both healthy and damaged files. Links/shortcuts are everywhere in this mess. I really NEED to see the real filename but windows seems to obfuscate links, leading to errors in the program that I'm using to sort the mess [File Locator Pro] and problems trying to properly rename real and valid shortcuts.

edit: the OS is Windows 10 Pro v1909

help pls. Puh-leezze
c

:)

 

How to expose *.lnk and other valid shortcut extensions

The term for extensions, such as .lnk, not being shown is Superhidden.

You can unhide Superhidden extensions using, for example, this guidance from SS64 but do use RegEdit to Export each Registry Key in .reg format first so you can return everything to normal afterwards.
Superhidden file extensions - SS64
- You can just do the bit you want by deleting all the other sections of the .reg file
- If you are going to run the whole lot then make a system image forst

Denis

 

How to expose *.lnk and other valid shortcut extensions

Try3 this is very helpful.
and this is interesting: I have been using File Locator Pro to go dig through the debris for files the user needs. It has a few typical search parameter choices, such as "documents", that should include damaged and good doc, docx, pdf, rtf, txt etc. Using that parameter, when it encounters a link to a doc, it 'prints' that in GUI as a "docx" or "doc" extension but in the "type" it will show 'shortcut'. I guess I can see why this somewhat confusing into is shown. However, after reading the ss64 detail you posted I went back to see what FLP would show if I simply request *.lnk - sure enough, it finds them and shows them as such.

very helpful. thank you much

 

How to expose *.lnk and other valid shortcut extensions

this is maddening folks, and I don't know a category here at tenforums that works for the question.
I am having to go through every file due to a really bad problem with copy integrity, so using tools to fetch and order both healthy and damaged files. Links/shortcuts are everywhere in this mess. I really NEED to see the real filename but windows seems to obfuscate links, leading to errors in the program that I'm using to sort the mess [File Locator Pro] and problems trying to properly rename real and valid shortcuts.

edit: the OS is Windows 10 Pro v1909

help pls. Puh-leezze
c