[Windows Vista] Administrative Tools folder is empty

Copyright © 2008 Ramesh Srinivasan
Windows Vista

Question

When I double click Administrative Tools either from the Control Panel or the Start Menu it brings up Explorer and the folder is empty. How can I get to these tools?

Answer

This happens if the shortcuts to various Admin tools have been deleted, either accidentally or when using a third-party disk cleaner program that you may have installed. Follow these steps to restore the administrative tools shortcuts.

Download vista_ultimate_admintools.zip and save to Desktop
Extract the files to the following location:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed! We feature Tips, Troubleshooting information, Scripts and Utilities for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems!

Prefer an E-mail subscription?

4 Responses to "[Windows Vista] Administrative Tools folder is empty"

G Kaiser

said this on 12 Apr 2007 8:30:49 AM PDT

I still think there's gotta be a better way to restore all of these shortcuts, but this WORKS! Thanks! :)

(Reply to this comment)

SBUSS

said this on 30 Sep 2008 6:39:43 PM PDT

That was easy, Thanks ;-)

(Reply to this comment)

Tom

said this on 18 Nov 2008 5:58:22 PM PDT

Thanks again. Also check your Start Menu for Administrative Tools links, mine were there but deleted in Control Panel. Copy and paste to the empty Admin Tools directory. (They were exactly the same as the one is this .ZIP file, BTW.) Not sure how this happened, like most Windows problems...

(Reply to this comment)