Windows 7 Need to reset my registry

[Casey G]

I just tried two different ways to remove the arrows from the icons on my desktop shortcuts. Neither way worked 100%, and now, I an unable to pin programs to the taskbar (as they warned may happen). Is there any way to restore the registry to previous settings?

 

[stueycaster]

First back up the registry by opening System Restore and setting a Restore Point.

Then open Regedit and navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile

If you find the correct key, you'll see the following names,
(Default)
EditFlags
FriendlyTypeName
NeverShowExt

4. Add a new string value to the registry key,
Value name: IsShortcut
Value data: .lnk

5. Exit from Registry Editor.

6. Logout and login again or restart Explorer for the change to take effect.

 

[Digerati]

and now, I an unable to pin programs to the taskbar (as they warned may happen). Is there any way to restore the registry to previous settings?

Reset the Registry? Not without reinstalling Windows. Assuming this is a very recent change, I suggest you look in System Restore and restore back in time to just before you made the change. That should "reset" the Registry, if you will, to the point before you dinked with it.

Then I might suggest you check out Link Removed - Invalid URL. It has an option to remove the arrows, as well as the "Shortcut" suffix.

WARNING: Do backup your registry first - and if not sure what a setting does, don't do it!