Shortcut Arrow

How to Remove or Change the Shortcut Arrow and Name in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to remove, restore, or change the Shortcut Arrow on shortcuts. You will also see how to enable or disable the Shortcut name extension when new shortcuts are created.

   Note

If you accidentally used a XP method of doing this by removing or renaming the IsShortCut registry, then the shortcuts in Favorite Links, Media Center, and in the Games Explorer disappear or will not work anymore. Vista uses this value to track links, lots of programs and features that use links will not work correctly like the ones above. You can use this program below to fix them by restoring the shortcut arrow, then you can make any changes you like afterwards.

   Warning

Removing the shortcut arrow from shortcut icons can make it hard to tell which files are shortcuts or not. This can lead to you accidentally deleting the actual file instead of just a shortcut to it.

OPTION ONE

Using a Program

1. If you have not already, click on the Download button below to download the Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover (Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager) program below for the 32-bit or 64-bit Vista you have installed. Save the .zip file to your desktop, extract (drag and drop) the .msi file to your desktop, and install it.​

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32-bit (x86) Vista​

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64-bit (x64) Vista​

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2. Double click on the program's shortcut to run the program.​

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3. To Change or Remove the Arrow for All Shortcuts ​

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A) Select (dot) the arrow option you want for the shortcut arrow. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you selected Custom Arrow, then click on Select to navigate to and choose a ICO (icon) file you have downloaded to use.​

4. To Remove the "Shortcut" Name from All Shortcuts ​

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A) Check the box to also remove the - Shortcut name extension for new shortcuts that are created.​

5. Click on Apply.​

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6. Click on Yes to log off to apply the changes. (See screenshot below)​

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7. Log back on and your done.​

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OPTION TWO

To Manually do this Through the Registry

NOTE: This option will allow you to only remove or restore the shortcut arrow on all shortcuts old and new.

1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Remove_Restore_Shortcut_Arrow.zip​

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2. To Remove the Shortcut Arrow​

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A) Open the ZIP file (step 1), and extract the Blank.ico file, and either the 32-bit or 64-bit Remove_Shortcut_Arrow.reg file for your Vista version to the desktop.​

NOTE: To see if your Vista is a 32-bit or 64-bit version, open the Start Menu and right click on Computer and click on Properties. Under System Type, you will see what version of Vista you have.​

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B) Right click on the Blank.ico file and click on Properties.​

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C) Under the General tab, click on the Unblock button if there. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: If the Unblock button is not there, then the file is already unblocked. Continue on to step D below.​

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D) Copy and Paste the Blank.ico into the C:\Windows folder, then click on Continue and Continue to approve the copy.​

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E) Right click on the 32-bit or 64-bit Remove_Shortcut_Arrow.reg file for your Vista version and click on Merge, then click on Continue, Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

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F) Go to step 4.​

3. To Restore the Shortcut Arrow​

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A) Open the ZIP file (step 1), and extract the Restore_Shortcut_Arrow.reg file to the desktop.​

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B) Right click on the Restore_Shortcut_Arrow.reg file and click on Merge, then click on Continue, Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

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C) In the C:\Windows folder, right click on the Blank.ico file and click on Delete, Continue, and Continue.​

NOTE: This is for when you have used step 2 above to remove the shortcut arrow previously.​

4. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.​

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5. You can now delete the downloaded files on your desktop if you like.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Remove the Shortcut Prefix On the Shortcut Name in Vista
• How to Change a Default Open Window Size for a Shortcut in Vista
• How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut for a Program in Vista
• How to Change the Target Path Location of a Shortcut in Vista
• How to Change a Shortcut Folder or File Icon in Vista
• How to Hide or Show Desktop Icon Text in Vista
• How to Hide or Show File Names in Vista
• How to Hide a Folder or Shortcut Icon in Vista
• How to Fix Game Shortcut Links in Vista Games Explorer

 

[Brink]

Tutorial has been updated to reflect the changes to the new 2.0 version of the Frameworkx Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager program.

10-24-2007

Shawn

 

[HydropilloW]

plain and simple thanks for this one,

 

[Brink]

Your welcome HydropilloW,

Welcome to the forum.

Shawn

 

[Leo Labron]

I tried that but I got an error message. It looks like this:

(sorry it is very long )

---

See the end of this message for details on invoking 
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.
 
************** Exception Text **************
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified
at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
at VistaArrowGone.Form1.btApply_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
 
 
************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
FxVisor
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Frameworkx/Vista%20Shortcut%20Manager/FxVisor.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.312 (rtmLHS.050727-3100)
CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
 
************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.
 
For example:
 
<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>
 
When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

 

[Brink]

Hi Leo Labron,

Did you use the correct 32 bit version of the program for your 32 bit Vista?

It looks like something is conflicting with the program.

 

[Arakai]

erm excuse me I have the same problem too can help me pls??
mine is a 32bit vista home basic
i've just uninstalled TweakVI and when i was uninstalling - the last part said that do you want to delete the registry thing something something.. i think that was the cause of this error.. can you help me pls?

 

[Brink]

Hi Arakai,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Thank you for giving a possible cause for this. I can only recommend for you to do a System Restore to a restore point dated before the problem to see if can undo the problem.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html


If that does not help, then you could do a Repair install, instead of a reinstall. This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep your user account files, settings, and programs.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Shawn

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hi Brink

Am I correct in assuming that if I run option two above
it will remove all the shortcut arrows?

Thanks for your reply Shawn.

Later Ted

 

[Brink]

Hi Ted,

Option Two has been removed. It causes the links in the Start menu's Game button menu to not work and have to have the shortcuts be recreated again. You can restore them by adding the shortcut arrow back.

Using the program above instead does not mess these up when removing the shortcut arrows though.

Shawn

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks Shawn

That thread was what got me interested in the first place.
I appreciate your time.

Later Ted

 

[Brink]

Ted,

The program will do the same thing and more without messing anything up though.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello all,

I'm glad I finally got around to doing this, I hated those arrows!
Now I may actually leave some things on my desktop.

Thanks Shawn!


Later Ted

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Ted.

You might like this tutorial to for icons on the desktop.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/143538-desktop-icon-text-hide-show.html

Shawn

 

[SwIeRsZcZ]

Could anyone upload this Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager 2.0 for Vista x64 ?? :/ It is not available on Frameworkx.com THANKS A LOT

 

[Brink]

Hi SwIeRsZcZ, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might try back with Frameworkx later to see if it may be just a temporary server problem. I have tried to send feedback to them about this, but I only got a error from their server instead.


For those that need the 32 bit Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager version, you can download it from here for now:

Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover - Free software downloads and reviews - CNET Download.com

or

Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover Download - Softpedia

 

[Brink]

The download link to Frameworkx in the tutorial has the Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager program available again for both the 32 bit and 64 bit Vista.

Shawn

 

[MadBull]

After installing and setting the changes to the shortcut arrow using Vista Shortcut Overlay Manager, can I uninstall the program without the arrows comming back?

Thanks for the helpfull post Brink!

 

[Brink]

Hi MadBull,

Yes, you can uninstall the program afterwards without it undoing any changes you have made with it.

 

[maslib]

Just when the registers go to the "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" -> "lnkfile" and delete the "IsShortcut". Restart the PC and shortcuts are no arrows!

INSERT BY: Brink
Not Recommended for Vista. See post below for why.