Open File Location doesn't work

[telanor]

For some reason the "Open File Location" command on shortcuts has stopped working for me. When I click it, nothing happens. No window opens, no error shows up, nothing. I tried running sfc /scannow but that didn't help. How can I fix this? I'm running windows vista business x64 sp2.

[Mosaic1]

First let's have a look to see if that shell menu handler is registered properly.

Copy the contents of the code box to notepad.
Nane the file link.bat
Save as Type: All files

echo Querying  HKCR\CLSID\{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5} >results.txt

reg query HKCR\CLSID\{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5} /s >>results.txt 2>&1
echo.>>results.txt
echo Querying HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu >>results.txt
reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu /s >>results.txt 2>&1

Start results.txt
exit

Double click on link.bat to run it.

When finished, a file named results.txt will open. Post the contents of results.txt into your next reply here,please.

We'll take it from there.

[telanor]

Here are the contents of results.txt:

Querying HKCR\CLSID\{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}
(Default) REG_SZ Open Containing Folder Menu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}\InProcServer32
(Default) REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
ThreadingModel REG_SZ Apartment


Querying HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandl ers\OpenContainingFolderMenu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandl ers\OpenContainingFolderMenu
(Default) REG_SZ {37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}

[Mosaic1]

Those entries are correct. Let's have a look at one more place:
Copy the contents of the code box to notepad.
Name the file WOWlink.bat
Save as Type: All files

reg query  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5 /s} >WOWresults.txt 2>&1
Start WOWresults.txt
exit

Double click on WOWlink.bat to run it.


When finished, a file named WOWresults.txt will open. Post the contents of WOWresults.txt into your next reply here,please.

[telanor]

I assume you meant to put the /s after the }, since it gave me an error otherwise. Heres the output


HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}
(Default) REG_SZ Open Containing Folder Menu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}\InProcServer32
(Default) REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
ThreadingModel REG_SZ Apartment

[Mosaic1]

Does this happen only on desktop shortcuts?

[telanor]

It happens to anything that is a shortcut, regardless of where it is. Basically anything that has "Open File Location" doesn't work.

[Mosaic1]

Thanks for catching the typo. Yes. You fixed it correctly. I have Windows7 64 bit. I tried to reproduce your situation here and couldn't. You have another option. There is a way to add a menu option to do the same thing as the Shell Extenson which isn't working. Or I can continue to try tacking down the problem.

Here's a link to a page with the instructions if you want to use this alternative. I used to use it myself when I ran XP and it worked. The only issue might be if you had a security program which used script blocking , or had the file assocation changed so that scripts would open in Notepad.

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/ad...-in-windows-xp

[Mosaic1]

I just ran across a post where the person had exactly the same problem as yours. He had installed Internet Explorer Beta. Uninstalling that fixed the problem.

[telanor]

Interesting. I just installed IE9 beta. I'll go uninstall it and see if this helps.

[Mosaic1]

Thanks. I will be very interested to hear how that goes. We'll be getting a lot of posts about this issue once more people install it.

[telanor]

Uninstalled and its working again. I would never have thought IE9 was the cause. Thanks for finding that out.

[Mosaic1]

You're welcome. Everything else is running ok? I'm nolt sure ,but you may now need to visit Windows Update,check your history and reinstall any Internet Explorer Security Updates.

[telanor]

That's alright, I don't use IE anyway, I only installed the beta to check it out.

[Mosaic1]

Even so, important system files and settings are often changed by these IE security patches.