Favorites disappeared

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Guest

After attempt to organize favorites they no longer appear in pane. Only "x"
in upper right hand corner & Cannot add new. File "bookmark.htm" is
missing from c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents.. Is this cause
of problem and if yes how can I get a copy of "bookmark.htm" into this folder
as it will not allow me access???

System is XP home edition, SP2 & IE6
 
Hi IrishIndian :-)

Try the following and see if it helps:

Go to Tools>Internet Options >Advanced tab
Uncheck "Enable Personalized Favorites Menu"
Click on Apply then click OK.

or..

Files Added to Favorites Folder Are Missing [Q209088]
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q209088

"Internet Explorer Favorites are missing/empty".
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAQ.htm#favorites

Show All Items on the Start Menu or Favorites Menu
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/230596/EN-US/

and....

Display all the links on the favorites menu
Bookmark Wizard http://www.moonsoftware.com/freeware.asp
AMdead Link http://www.aignes.com/products.htm

also..

Courtesy of MS-MVP Alan Edwards

Internet Explorer Favorites are missing/empty

When you click the Favorites menu in Internet Explorer, all of your favorite
URLs may be missing. This might happen if the Favorites Shell Folder is set
incorrectly. Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

For Windows XP

[HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders]

Set the Favorites path to %USERPROFILE%\Favorites

The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ

The Favorites Shell Folders path reverts back ?

Sometimes, the Shell Folders path for Favorites may revert to the previous
setting. To prevent that, read below:

Checkpoints:

If you've only altered the "Shell Folders" value, it usually reverts back
(in accordance to the User Shell Folders value). You need to alter the
Favorites path in User Shell Folders key.

If you're using an environmental variable such as "%Userprofile%", you need
to create a REG_EXPAND_SZ value type, rather than REG_SZ. Also, note that
REG_EXPAND_SZ type can accept either formats.

Disable any browser / favorites management software provided by your ISP and
reset the Shell Folders as above. If it does not help, see if the *.URL
files
exists in the hard drive by doing a file search. They may be present in a
different folder. Example.. Earthlink's software.


Hope this helps.

Jan :)
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
 
I can't add anything to Jan's post but there is no "bookmark.htm"
needed in Internet Explorer. It is only created if you use File-Export
to export or backup your Favorites. It does not exist by default, nor
is it needed.

....Alan
 
Organize Favorites dialog in Internet Explorer displays a "Red X" mark:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ie/redxorg.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


After attempt to organize favorites they no longer appear in pane. Only "x"
in upper right hand corner & Cannot add new. File "bookmark.htm" is
missing from c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents.. Is this cause
of problem and if yes how can I get a copy of "bookmark.htm" into this
folder
as it will not allow me access???

System is XP home edition, SP2 & IE6
 
Hi Frank :-)
Thanks for your help... Found corrupted reg. key and corrected... Working
fine now...
Click to expand...

I'm glad to hear you were able to resolve your problem. Good job!

Thank you very much for posting back and letting us know what worked for
you, and for the benefit of other readers who might have a similar problem.

Jan :)
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.
 
I have had the same problem with not being able to open favorites. In the
registery the favorites file is a REG-SZ. How do I change it to a
REG-EXPAND-SZ. I have never messed with the registrey before so please
explain VERY carefully what I need to do. Thanks

Jan Il said:
Hi Frank :-)
Thanks for your help... Found corrupted reg. key and corrected... Working
fine now...
Click to expand...

I'm glad to hear you were able to resolve your problem. Good job!

Thank you very much for posting back and letting us know what worked for
you, and for the benefit of other readers who might have a similar problem.

Jan :)
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.
Click to expand...
 
Hi sgs :-)
I have had the same problem with not being able to open favorites. In the
registery the favorites file is a REG-SZ. How do I change it to a
REG-EXPAND-SZ. I have never messed with the registrey before so please
explain VERY carefully what I need to do. Thanks
Click to expand...

If you are not familiar with working in the Registry I don't recommend that
you delete anything from the Registry until you are sure everything will
work correctly.

You will need to Rename the current Favorites and create a new one. Log on
in the Administrator account and follow the instructions below very
carefully:

First - Make sure that you make a backup of the Registry and read the
information here before making any changes.
To restore the registry
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/tools_regeditors.mspx

To back up the Registry:
1. Open Windows Explorer>Documents & Settings. Create a folder called
RegBackup
2. Go to Start>Run>enter regedit and click OK
3. When the Registry opens, click on File then Export
4. Click Export and save the backup file to the folder you just created
above. You can use the date of the backup as the file name.

5. Then navigate to the
[HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders]

6. Look in the right panel for Favorites, highlight it
7. Right click it and select Rename and rename it Favorites_Old
8. While in the right pane, right click on any open area, you'll see the
word New ->
9. Click on it and a list will appear, select Expandable String Value (at
the bottom)
10. Click on it and you will see a New Value#1 tag appear at the bottom of
the list
11. Type in Favorites and then click any open place on the right pane to
close the tag
12. You will see there is a Value Type of REG_EXPAND_SZ nest to it in the
Type field
13. Double click on the new Favorites name to open it
15. In the Value data window paste the %USERPROFILE%\Favorites and click OK
16. Save and close the Registry

See if that resolves the problem. If this resolves the problem, you can
delete the Favorites_Old in the Registry. If not, then just delete the new
Favorites and rename the Favorites_Old back to Favorites, Save and close the
Registry.

Hope this helps.

Jan :)
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Jan Il said:
Hi Frank :-)
Thanks for your help... Found corrupted reg. key and corrected...
Working
fine now...
Click to expand...

I'm glad to hear you were able to resolve your problem. Good job!

Thank you very much for posting back and letting us know what worked for
you, and for the benefit of other readers who might have a similar
problem.

Jan :)
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

:

After attempt to organize favorites they no longer appear in pane.
Only
"x"
in upper right hand corner & Cannot add new. File "bookmark.htm" is
missing from c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents.. Is this
cause
of problem and if yes how can I get a copy of "bookmark.htm" into this
folder
as it will not allow me access???

System is XP home edition, SP2 & IE6
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I checked the registry, and it has exactly what you suggested. My problem
occured after I junked EI & & Office Betas which were messing up my machine.
I have almost everything back to normal (I think) but the favorites section
which is still grey with the black X. any other suggestions?

Thanks.

Jan Il said:
Hi IrishIndian :-)

Try the following and see if it helps:

Go to Tools>Internet Options >Advanced tab
Uncheck "Enable Personalized Favorites Menu"
Click on Apply then click OK.

or..

Files Added to Favorites Folder Are Missing [Q209088]
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q209088

"Internet Explorer Favorites are missing/empty".
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAQ.htm#favorites

Show All Items on the Start Menu or Favorites Menu
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/230596/EN-US/

and....

Display all the links on the favorites menu
Bookmark Wizard http://www.moonsoftware.com/freeware.asp
AMdead Link http://www.aignes.com/products.htm

also..

Courtesy of MS-MVP Alan Edwards

Internet Explorer Favorites are missing/empty

When you click the Favorites menu in Internet Explorer, all of your favorite
URLs may be missing. This might happen if the Favorites Shell Folder is set
incorrectly. Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

For Windows XP

[HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders]

Set the Favorites path to %USERPROFILE%\Favorites

The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ

The Favorites Shell Folders path reverts back ?

Sometimes, the Shell Folders path for Favorites may revert to the previous
setting. To prevent that, read below:

Checkpoints:

If you've only altered the "Shell Folders" value, it usually reverts back
(in accordance to the User Shell Folders value). You need to alter the
Favorites path in User Shell Folders key.

If you're using an environmental variable such as "%Userprofile%", you need
to create a REG_EXPAND_SZ value type, rather than REG_SZ. Also, note that
REG_EXPAND_SZ type can accept either formats.

Disable any browser / favorites management software provided by your ISP and
reset the Shell Folders as above. If it does not help, see if the *.URL
files
exists in the hard drive by doing a file search. They may be present in a
different folder. Example.. Earthlink's software.


Hope this helps.

Jan :)
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


After attempt to organize favorites they no longer appear in pane. Only
"x"
in upper right hand corner & Cannot add new. File "bookmark.htm" is
missing from c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents.. Is this
cause
of problem and if yes how can I get a copy of "bookmark.htm" into this
folder
as it will not allow me access???

System is XP home edition, SP2 & IE6
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
for a while now in internet explorer 6 when i click the favorites icon the
column that is supposed to display my favorites just appears as a solid grey
column with a x in the top right right corner.
i have tryed installing IE7 and the favorites work fine but i prefer to run
IE6 because of speed issues.
I have checked the path is correct in registry editor.
I can not work it out.
Any Help Would Be Much Appreciated
 
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