Some desktop shortcuts have stopped working properly
Dell Inspiron 15. Windows 8.1. Firefox 56.
I’ve had desktop shortcuts set up for years that have worked perfectly. Recently several have stopped working and others will link to the home page of the site but will not go to deeper pages. Others work fine.
The ones that work seem to display the path to the desktop and shortcut (ex. file:///C:/Users/Jim/Desktop/Amazon.com%20Online%20Shopping%20for%20Electronics,%20Apparel,%20Computers,%20Books,%20DVDs%20&%20more.URL) then roll to the URL (ex. www.amazon.com.) The ones that don’t work only display the path but never the actual URL. Some that don’t work only display a white page with blue links on the left side. Those links do not connect to anything.
There have been recent Firefox and Windows updates but I can’t say if the problem started after I installed these updates. Can someone please suggest a solution.
Thanks.
Chosen solution
I don't have any sure fire fixes to suggest, but there was a Windows setting discussed in another thread. Although that was for Windows 10, Windows 8.1 may work similarly, and for what it's worth, I'm attaching a screenshot from Windows 7:
NPLD said
I have discovered that if you manually force the *.url file association from Firefox to Internet Browser that will make this work again.Read this answer in context 👍 2
The icon changes from the Big FF icon to a White file with the FF logo inside the file.
All Replies (5)
Not sure if this will help you http://www.thewindowsclub.com/desktop-icons-not-working-in-windows You could try a System Restore prior to Microsoft and Firefox updates if there is one. Note may loose other information and or will not help you.
If does not work for you you will have to go to the sites and create new desktop short cuts.
Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
Normally, the address bar will show the address of the destination site and not the file:/// address, which indicates a locally cached copy of the site.
Several other Firefox 56 users reported this problem, but I don't know if anyone has figured out why it affects some users and not others.
Do you have any Firefox tabs already open when you use the shortcut or is Firefox completely closed at the time?
Either way....with or without other tabs open. FF just updated to 56.0.1 but that seems not to have affected the problem. Making new shortcuts doesn't change anything either.
Chosen Solution
I don't have any sure fire fixes to suggest, but there was a Windows setting discussed in another thread. Although that was for Windows 10, Windows 8.1 may work similarly, and for what it's worth, I'm attaching a screenshot from Windows 7:
NPLD said
I have discovered that if you manually force the *.url file association from Firefox to Internet Browser that will make this work again.
The icon changes from the Big FF icon to a White file with the FF logo inside the file.
This worked. I right clicked on the shortcut, chose "open with" then "set default." Chose "internet browser." As was said, all the icons changed but THEY WORK.
Thanks to all.....