Microsoft KB Archive/936881

= Error message when you open an Internet shortcut file on a computer that has Internet Explorer 7 installed: &quot;Problem with Shortcut The target '' of this Internet Shortcut is not valid&quot; =

Article ID: 936881

Article Last Modified on 11/7/2007

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APPLIES TO

 Windows Internet Explorer 7, when used with:  Windows Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista

 Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP

 Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Server 2003

 Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Server 2003 IA64</li></ul> </li></ul>

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<div class="symptoms_section">

SYMPTOMS
On a computer that has Internet Explorer 7 installed, you click a hyperlink that links to an Internet shortcut file. Then, you save the shortcut file to the local disk. When you double-click the shortcut file, you cannot open the file. Additionally, you receive an error message that resembles the following:

Problem with Shortcut

The target &quot;&quot; of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is correct.

If you examine the properties of the Internet shortcut file when this problem occurs, the Type of file field indicates that the file type is Internet Shortcut (.url). However, the Web Document tab may disappear. Also, on the Details tab, the URL string may disappear.

<div class="cause_section">

CAUSE
This problem occurs if the Windows shell receives a notification during the process that creates the Internet shortcut file. This notification is received before the file has been completely written to the disk.

<div class="resolution_section">

Windows Vista
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites
This hotfix has no prerequisites.

Restart requirement
You have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information
To enable this hotfix after installation, follow these steps: <ol> Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.</li> Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl

</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.</li> Type the following registry subkey name, and then press ENTER:

FEATURE_URLFILE_CACHEFLUSH_KB936881

</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER.</li> On the Edit menu, click Modify.</li> Type 1, and then click OK.

Note To disable the hotfix, type 0, and then click OK.</li> Exit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista, 32-bit versions

<div class="resolution_section">

Windows XP
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed on the computer.

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information
To enable this hotfix after installation, follow these steps: <ol> Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.</li> Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl

</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.</li> Type the following subkey name, and then press ENTER:

FEATURE_URLFILE_CACHEFLUSH_KB936881

</li> On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER.</li> On the Edit menu, click Modify.</li> <li>Type 1, and then click OK.

Note To disable the hotfix, type 0, and then click OK.</li> <li>Exit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows XP with SP2, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 installed on the computer.

Restart requirement
You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information
To enable this hotfix after installation, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.</li> <li>Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl

</li> <li>On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.</li> <li>Type the following subkey name, and then press ENTER:

FEATURE_URLFILE_CACHEFLUSH_KB936881

</li> <li>On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.</li> <li>Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER.</li> <li>On the Edit menu, click Modify.</li> <li>Type 1, and then click OK.

Note To disable the hotfix, type 0, and then click OK.</li> <li>Exit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003 with SP2, x86-based versions

<div class="resolution_section">

<div class="status_section">

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

<div class="moreinformation_section">

MORE INFORMATION
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbfix kbqfe kbpubtypekc kbexpertiseadvanced kbhotfixserver KB936881

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