Unable to view Internet shortcuts (175306)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 1.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
This article was previously published under Q175306

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to view a Web page by clicking an Internet shortcut on the Favorites menu in Internet Explorer, or double-clicking an Internet shortcut, Internet Explorer may not load the Web page specified in the Internet shortcut.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Internet Shortcut file association does not associate an Internet shortcut with Internet Explorer.

RESOLUTION

To restore the Internet Shortcut file association, use either of the following methods:

Reinstall Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer 3.02:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
  2. On the View menu, click Options, and then click the File Types tab.
  3. If it exists, click Internet Shortcut, and then click Remove.
  4. Reinstall Internet Explorer 3.02.
Internet Explorer 4.x, 5, and 6:
  1. Quit Internet Explorer.
  2. On the desktop, double-click My Computer.
  3. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the File Types tab.
  4. If it exists, click Internet Shortcut, and then click Remove.

Re-create the File Association

Internet Explorer 3.02:
  1. Quit Internet Explorer.
  2. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
  3. On the View menu, click Options, and then click the File Types tab.
  4. If it exists, click Internet Shortcut, and then click Remove.
  5. Restart Internet Explorer.
  6. In Windows Explorer, click Options on the View menu.
  7. On the File Types tab, click Internet Shortcut, click Edit, click OK and then click OK again.
Internet Explorer 4.x, 5, and 6:
  1. Quit Internet Explorer.
  2. Click Start, and then right -click My Computer.
  3. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the File Types tab.
  4. If it exists, click Internet Shortcut, and then click Remove.
  5. Click New Type, and then in the Description Of Type box, type Internet Explorer.
  6. In the Associated Extension box, type URL.
  7. Click New, and then in the Action box, type &Edit.
  8. In the "Application used to perform this action" box, type the following line, and then click OK:

    c:\program files\microsoft frontpage express\bin\fpxpress.exe

  9. Click New, and then in the Action box, type Open.
  10. In the "Application used to perform this action" box, type the following line, and then click OK.

    rundll32.exe shdocvw.dll,OpenURL %l

  11. Click New, and then in the Action box, type Print.
  12. In the "Application used to perform this action" box, type the following line, and then click OK:

    rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSHTML.DLL,PrintHTML "%1"

  13. Click New, and then in the Action box, type Printto.
  14. In the "Application used to perform this action" box, type the following line, and then click OK:

    rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSHTML.DLL,PrintHTML "%1" "%2" "%3" "%4"

  15. Click Change Icon, and then click Browse.
  16. Double-click the following file: c:\Windows\System\Url.dll
  17. Click the first icon in the Current Icon box, click OK, and then click OK again.

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior can also occur if the following conditions are true:
  • Netscape Navigator or Netscape Communicator is installed.
  • The "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser" option is not enabled.
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Internet, and then click the Programs tab.
  3. Click to select the "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser" check box, and then click OK.
To verify that the Netscape browser is set as the default, create and run a shortcut on the desktop to any URL (you must use the format "http://address" to create a valid .url shortcut).
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/2/2006
Keywords:kbenv kbprb KB175306
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