IE shortcuts don't work

[Homer]

I'm running XP for home and IE 6. Recently, my desktop shortcuts stop
working from time to time. They just don't open the site that they're tied
to. I don't get any error message when this happens. If I reboot, the
problem goes away for awhile. Not sure what triggers the problem again. I
haven't installed any new hardware or software.

Thanks.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

"Sometimes shortcuts don't work" doesn't give us much to go on, I'm afraid.
If you get any error messages when clicking on such a desktop shortcut, post
the messages in their entirety.

If you create a new desktop shortcut, does the behavior occur with it, too?

Is your computer fully patched at Windows Update?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine
(e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

[Homer]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Unfortunately, there is no error message when this has happened. When I
click on the icon, nothing happens. All my application shortcuts work just
fine and so does the shortcut to IE.

I have Norton the machine and the subscription is up to date. I use
Windows Defender and whatever anti-spyware my ISP provides. I also have a
firewall provided by my ISP in addition to the one provided by Norton.

I also just made sure I had all the current Windows update for my machine.
They've been downloaded and installed.

I think that addresses all the questions you raised.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Repost: If you create a new desktop shortcut (link), does the behavior occur
with it, too?

Is another browser installed (e.g., Chrome; Firefox)? If so, is IE set as
your default browser?

> I have Norton the machine and the subscription is up to date.

What's the name & version of the Norton application (e.g., Norton 360/N360
2009; Norton Internet Security/NIS 2007)?

Was an earlier Norton application ever installed on the computer (e.g., NIS
2004; NAV 2004)?

Has a McAfee application EVER been installed on the computer (e.g., a free
trial preinstalled when you bought it)?

> ...I also have a

> firewall provided by my ISP in addition to the one provided by Norton.

Uh, ISP's don't provide firewalls (other than a hardware firewall included
with an ISP-supplied modem). Make sure that the Norton Firewall is enabled
but the Windows Firewall (Control Panel | Windows Firewall) is disabled.

To test, you might disable the Norton firewall and then enable the Windows
Firewall and see if the behavior persists.

[Homer]

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Repost: If you create a new desktop shortcut (link), does the behavior occur

> with it, too? Yes

>
> Is another browser installed (e.g., Chrome; Firefox)? If so, is IE set as

> your default browser? NO

>
> > I have Norton the machine and the subscription is up to date.
>
> What's the name & version of the Norton application (e.g., Norton 360/N360

> 2009; Norton Internet Security/NIS 2007)?Norton Internet Security 2009

>
> Was an earlier Norton application ever installed on the computer (e.g., NIS

> 2004; NAV 2004)? No

>
> Has a McAfee application EVER been installed on the computer (e.g., a free

> trial preinstalled when you bought it)? No

>
> > ...I also have a
> > firewall provided by my ISP in addition to the one provided by Norton.
>
> Uh, ISP's don't provide firewalls (other than a hardware firewall included
> with an ISP-supplied modem). Make sure that the Norton Firewall is enabled

> but the Windows Firewall (Control Panel | Windows Firewall) is disabled. OK

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[Please try to avoid inline replies.]

Right-click on My Computer, click on Properties: What WinXP version is
listed on the resulting General tab (e.g., WinXP SP3)?

Open IE & click on HELP then ABOUT: Are you sure IE7 isn't listed here
(e.g., v7.0.5730.11)?

What anti-virus application or security suite was installed before you
installed NIS 2009?