Restore Missing or Deleted Favorite Links Shell Folder

In Windows Vista Explorer window, there are “Favorite Links” section in the navigation pane on the top left corner that display frequently used shortcut links. Users can add and remove the shortcuts and links in “Favorite Links” in their respective personal folder, which usually resides in “C:\Users\username\Links\” folder. However, the Links folder is not protected and set as read-only, and users can delete the Links folder away if they’re not in used or accidentally erased the folder.

Empty Favorite Links
When the Links folder is deleted and removed, the Favorite Links will simply show “(Empty)” text. However, the Links folder is already gone and deleted.

To restore back the Links folder which will be recognized and detected as shell folder for Favorite Links in navigation pane, and thus allowing users to manage the shortcuts or URLs in the “Favorite Links” pane again, type shell:links in Start Search box in Start Menu, or in the Run command. “shell:links” will re-create the valid folder again in appropriate user location again. Users cannot simply recreate a new “Links” folder as it’s not linked or associated with Favorite Links. And if you’re already create a new folder named as “Links” manually, remove it else the command will not overwrite the existing non-shell Links folder, but will create a “New Folder” shell folder for Favorite Links instead.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 14th, 2007 at 6:38 pm and is filed under Windows Vista. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 Responses to “Restore Missing or Deleted Favorite Links Shell Folder”

  1. Robo
    January 28th, 2009 18:53
    9

    Thanks, this worked great!

    I already had a Links folder with shortcuts inside, but teh Favourite Links panel still says empty.

    I renamed the Links folder, ran your command, it created a new Links folder and everything worked again after I added the shortcuts back into the new folder.

  2. pin
    January 12th, 2009 05:21
    8

    Thanks, worked a treat!

  3. andres
    November 24th, 2008 11:10
    7

    hey what’s up, thanks for the solution, but I have my operating system in spainsh, can you tell me how to repair it? thanks a lot!

  4. Sidsmith
    October 10th, 2008 00:33
    6

    Thanks very much – thats great!

  5. Favourites are missing... - Microsoft Windows Vista Community Forums - Vistaheads
    October 9th, 2008 04:24
    5

    [...] Favourites are missing… Sidsmith, try the method in this link: Restore Missing or Deleted Favorite Links Shell Folder

  6. Bane
    July 8th, 2008 02:17
    4

    Uhm, I was wondering if this is my problem, but the problem is that my links folder is there and accesible, but it shows anyway “Empty”, even if the Links folder exists and it’s full of folders

    Anyone knows the solution?

  7. Fady Bran
    May 22nd, 2008 20:27
    3

    this was one of the little frustrating things that you know there’s a workaround somewhere,
    I looked over the web; and i have to say; this article was a magical quick fix

    thanks alot, keep up the good work, you’ve got a new loyal surfer

    FB

  8. Carlos
    March 9th, 2008 20:14
    2

    Thanks a lot for this information! I would never have guessed how to do it otherwise…

    C

  9. restore deleted internet history
    February 27th, 2008 00:54
    1

    [...] are a couple links — hope you find something to help Restore Missing or Deleted Favorite Links Shell Folder

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