Cannot Delete Desktop Shortcuts: Access is Denied

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Guest

I have invalid shortcuts to folders on desktop which cannot be deleted. I get
message "Cannot delete <folder name>: Access is denied <etc>". They are all
meant to be shortcuts to folders but the icon does not show a folder image,
more an image like a "pop-up window". The shortcut properties has a message
"Target Type: This is not a valid shortcut". There is no Target information
and all the buttons and text entry fields are "greyed out". However, the
target folder exists and is still in the same location.
I also have desktop shortcuts to the same targets which are valid, but they
were all created the same way: highlight folder, right-click, Create
Shortcut, drag (or copy/paste) to desktop.
I am on Windows XP (Home) at SP2 with all the latest Microsoft updates.

I should like to delete these invalid shortcuts. I would be grateful for any
help. Thanks.
 
After backup you might try running;
chkdsk /r
from the recovery console command line. (/r implies /f and /p)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows XP
CD-Rom. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows
XP installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery
Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do not have
the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%

Also you can try deleting from the recovery console. First you'll need to;

Control Panel|Admin Tools|Local Security Policy Recovery console:
"Allow floppy copy and access to all drives/folders" set to 'Enabled'

Then from the recovery console command line;
SET allowallpaths = TRUE

to gain access to all folders and try deleting from here.


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I have invalid shortcuts to folders on desktop which cannot be deleted. I
get
| message "Cannot delete <folder name>: Access is denied <etc>". They are
all
| meant to be shortcuts to folders but the icon does not show a folder
image,
| more an image like a "pop-up window". The shortcut properties has a
message
| "Target Type: This is not a valid shortcut". There is no Target
information
| and all the buttons and text entry fields are "greyed out". However, the
| target folder exists and is still in the same location.
| I also have desktop shortcuts to the same targets which are valid, but
they
| were all created the same way: highlight folder, right-click, Create
| Shortcut, drag (or copy/paste) to desktop.
| I am on Windows XP (Home) at SP2 with all the latest Microsoft updates.
|
| I should like to delete these invalid shortcuts. I would be grateful for
any
| help. Thanks.
|
|
|
 
Dave, Thanks for your reply. After my next scheduled backup (in 2 days) I
will try your suggestion, and report back. I am wondering if my method of
creating the shortcuts (see my original post) is causing the problem, because
elsewhere I have seen "the recommended" way: select the folder, right-click,
then "Send To Desktop(shortcut)". However, my method usually works.

Dave Patrick said:
After backup you might try running;
chkdsk /r
from the recovery console command line. (/r implies /f and /p)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows XP
CD-Rom. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows
XP installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery
Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do not have
the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%

Also you can try deleting from the recovery console. First you'll need to;

Control Panel|Admin Tools|Local Security Policy Recovery console:
"Allow floppy copy and access to all drives/folders" set to 'Enabled'

Then from the recovery console command line;
SET allowallpaths = TRUE

to gain access to all folders and try deleting from here.


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I have invalid shortcuts to folders on desktop which cannot be deleted. I
get
| message "Cannot delete <folder name>: Access is denied <etc>". They are
all
| meant to be shortcuts to folders but the icon does not show a folder
image,
| more an image like a "pop-up window". The shortcut properties has a
message
| "Target Type: This is not a valid shortcut". There is no Target
information
| and all the buttons and text entry fields are "greyed out". However, the
| target folder exists and is still in the same location.
| I also have desktop shortcuts to the same targets which are valid, but
they
| were all created the same way: highlight folder, right-click, Create
| Shortcut, drag (or copy/paste) to desktop.
| I am on Windows XP (Home) at SP2 with all the latest Microsoft updates.
|
| I should like to delete these invalid shortcuts. I would be grateful for
any
| help. Thanks.
|
|
|
Click to expand...
 
You're welcome.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Dave, Thanks for your reply. After my next scheduled backup (in 2 days) I
| will try your suggestion, and report back. I am wondering if my method of
| creating the shortcuts (see my original post) is causing the problem,
because
| elsewhere I have seen "the recommended" way: select the folder,
right-click,
| then "Send To Desktop(shortcut)". However, my method usually works.
 
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