Attaching a shortcut causes a software restriction policy error message

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pete
  • Start date Start date
P

Pete

Hello,

I am one of the administrators of a large network running
Windows XP on the desktop, Windows 2000 servers and
Exchange. When a client copies or attaches shortcut to
new email and then tries to open it, he gets a message
that group policy settings prevent him doing so and to
check the Event Viewer.

If the client attaches the actual document rather than the
shortcut to it, there is no problem. The following error
message is displayed:

Error: "Windows cannot open this shortcut because it has
been prevented by a software restriction policy. For more
information open the Event Viewer or contact your system
administrator."

Is this a known problem, do you know? It has only just
started recently and could be related to a hotfix or a
Service Pack 1a that are the only things that I think we
have done recently that might have causes it. The client
has several workarounds - sending the shortcut embedded in
a doc, or using a unc path. These both work without any
issues.

Any assistance or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and regards,

Peter Kennedy
 
Hi Peter,

First thing that crosses my mind is the file type - when
the user is sending a shortcut then the attachment will
probably have the file type of .LNK - therefore do you
have a specific policies around the .LNK file type?

What happens if the user save the shortcut to the desktop
and then tries to open it (just rule out Outlook)?

Are you using the Outlook Security Settings feature to
customise the file type users can access from Outlook?

Regards,
Steve
 
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