Board logo

Shortcut Targets disappearing
Macbeast - 24/6/14 at 08:53 AM

Using Windows 7. I have about 20 shortcuts in Favourites for internet connections. Almost every day when I click on a shortcut I get a message saying " Problem with shortcut. The target " " of this internet shortcut is not valid " When I look at the properties of the shortcut the address URL ( www. etc ) has vanished. I can usually get to my target by going through my History drop-down list but why are these shortcuts being emptied?

This seems to happen on a random basis: it's not the same shortcut every time.



[Edited on 24/6/14 by Macbeast]

David Jenkins - 24/6/14 at 09:50 AM

Which browser are you using?

If it's Internet Explorer, I strongly recommend that you try a different one - I use Firefox, but there's also Opera, Chrome and numerous others.

britishtrident - 24/6/14 at 11:30 AM

The answer will be somewhere in the security or privacy settings you may well find the answer on the Microsoft website but Internet Explorer is best avoided anyway, as advised n the above post switch to Firefox or Chrome and keep Internet explorer in reserve for those rare badly written websites that demand it.

[Edited on 24/6/14 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 24/6/14 by britishtrident]

David Jenkins - 24/6/14 at 01:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
... keep Internet explorer in reserve for those rare badly written websites that demand it.


Such as the Australian Immigration Dept visa website! It actually causes Firefox to break - although I only used IE until I found out what the site was trying to do (open a new window with loads of scripts). I ended up using Chrome, which worked properly.

BTW: The Aussie "eVisa" application web pages are APPALLING! Poor structure & layout, total lack of a logical sequence of questions, etc, etc. Never mind - got the visas now!



[Edited on 24/6/14 by David Jenkins]

Slimy38 - 24/6/14 at 02:24 PM

Can you do a favourites export to determine whether they're being wiped as you use them or whether they're actually gone already?

Macbeast - 24/6/14 at 04:27 PM

@ Slimy.
Can't see any way of doing that

Slimy38 - 24/6/14 at 04:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
@ Slimy.
Can't see any way of doing that


In IE;

Click on the favourites star to bring up the favourites list. There is a button at the top 'add to favorites' with a drop down arrow next to it. Click on the arrow, and the import/export options are on the list.

Macbeast - 25/6/14 at 07:41 AM

OK Slimy. I'll try that next time a favourite disappears. I assume if I export them it's only a copy- ie they stay in the favourites folder as well ?

Slimy38 - 25/6/14 at 07:54 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
OK Slimy. I'll try that next time a favourite disappears. I assume if I export them it's only a copy- ie they stay in the favourites folder as well ?


It generates a web page with all your links on there, but leaves the original in the folder. I'd suggest doing it before another favourite disappears, if they are disappearing as you click on them then a backup will be useful.

David Jenkins - 25/6/14 at 01:53 PM

Another bonus for exporting the favourites list is that they can easily be imported to a different browser later on.