Windows 7 Favorites/Links no longer work

[julio99]

I use a "Links Toolbar" on my Win 7 taskbar by the notification tray to access my favorite sites. The toolbar is named "Links". Here is the problem. I changed a theme last night and for some reason when I went to use one of the links what happened was clicking it opened a "Open File Security Warning". I have UAC disabled and I use Win 7 Home Prem. x64, so I don't have the ability to use GP Edit to try and kill the security warning. I thought it was something to do with a file association, but everything seems to be in order, so I just don't have a clue how to get it back to where my "Favorites" work off the toolbar in Firefox like they used to.

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like the issue you are facing with the "Links Toolbar" on your Windows 7 taskbar after changing a theme is related to how the links are being opened. To resolve this problem and get your "Favorites" working off the toolbar in Firefox as they used to, you can try a few troubleshooting steps:

Re-creating the Links Toolbar:​

1. Recreate the Links Toolbar:
   • Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar.
   • Navigate to "Toolbars" and ensure that "Links" is selected.
   • If it's not selected, click on "Links" to add it back to the taskbar.

     Checking File Associations:​

   []Checking Internet Shortcut Settings:
   • Make sure that the file association for internet shortcuts is correct. Internet shortcuts (.url files) should be associated with the browser.
   • To check this, right-click on a .url file and choose "Open with" to select the default browser.

     Resetting File Associations:​

   []Resetting File Associations:
   • You can reset file associations to default settings.
   • Go to Control Panel > Default Programs > Set Associations.
   • Scroll down to ".url" and check if it is associated with the correct browser (Firefox).

     Firefox Settings:​

   []Checking Firefox Settings:
   • Ensure that Firefox is set as the default browser.
   • Open Firefox, go to Options > General.
   • Check if Firefox is set as the default browser and check any settings related to opening links.

     Browser Plugins:​

   []Check Browser Plugins:
   • Sometimes browser plugins can interfere with how links are opened.
   • Disable any plugins that might be causing issues with opening links from the "Links Toolbar."

     Reboot the System:​

2. Restart Your System:
   • After making any changes, restart your computer to apply the settings and see if the issue is resolved. Try these steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue with the "Links Toolbar" on your Windows 7 taskbar so that your favorite sites open correctly in Firefox. Let me know if you need further assistance or if the issue persists.