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• Internet Explorer FAQ

"Administrative Tools folder is empty"

Published : May 2004
Updated   : Mar 2007
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Symptom

When you open the Administrative Tools folder in the Start Menu, the shortcuts in the folder may be missing.

Cause

This happens due to one of these reasons:

• The Administrative Tools shell folder path is incorrectly set.
• The Administrative Tools shortcuts are deleted accidentally.

Solution for Case 1

• Start Regedit.exe and navigate to the following locations one by one:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders

-and-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Shell Folders

• Delete the value named Common Administrative Tools (if present).
• Close Regedit.exe and restart Windows.

See if the shortcuts in the Administrative Tools folder are restored. If not, see Solution 2 below.

Solution for Case 2

Automate

The utility AdminTools (~8kb) restores the missing shortcuts to the Administrative Tools folder.

Creating the shortcuts manually

To re-create the shortcuts manually, refer this table. Re-create the shortcuts in the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools

Display Administrative Tools folder in the Start menu