Favorite Links in the Windows Explorer navigation pane is completely empty
- Ramesh Srinivasan
- Windows Vista
Symptom
When you open Windows Explorer, the Favorite Links area may be completely empty (as shown in the figure below), even though the %userprofile%\Links folder contains the actual shortcuts. Normally, the Favorite Links area displays the list of shortcuts present in the %userprofile%\Links folder. Where %userprofile% represents your user profile home folder, which is typically C:\Users\{username}
Resolution
This happens if the IsShortcut registry value for .lnk files (Shortcuts) is deleted in an attempt to hide the overlay icon in shortcuts. To resolve the problem, re-create the IsShortcut registry value.
Method 1
Download and apply the .lnk file association fix from the following link:
File association fixes for Windows Vista
Method 2
- Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER
- Navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
- In the right-pane, create a String value (REG_SZ) named IsShortcut
- Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.
More information
To remove the shortcut arrow in Windows Vista, see article How to remove or modify the Shortcut overlay in Windows Vista
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4 Responses to "Favorite Links in the Windows Explorer navigation pane is completely empty" 
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said this on 16 May 2007 1:45:24 PM PDT
Quick and to the point - this solved a problem I was afraid would be unsolvable.
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said this on 29 Feb 2008 1:57:30 PM PDT
You can't imagine how much this article SAVED ME from a complete re-install of Windows Vista. There are NO WORDS in this world to thank you my friend!!!
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said this on 15 Jun 2008 2:24:39 PM PDT
Though I have seen this advice repeatedly, it does not work for me. This is just a warning so others won't be frustrated if it does not work for them either.
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