All Desktop Shortcuts, New and Old, Now URLs

[Ahlyssah]

I think this all started two days ago. My shortcuts for the handful of Steam games I actually made shortcuts for don't work. When I tried clicking on them the first time, my computer asked what program I wanted to use to open them with. I've checked the properties, and they are all URL files now. I tried restarting the computer, I tried deleted and re-creating a shortcut, and it's still a URL. If I go through Steam itself, the games play just fine, and I made a shortcut for Fallout 3 and Morrowind by right-clicking the .exe file in my files. I even tried downloading a new game that I have never touched, and the same problem arises.

Here's what comes up when I open the shortcut for Mass Effect (the new game, just now downloaded) in Chrome:

[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
Prop3=19,0
[InternetShortcut]
IDList=
IconIndex=0
URL=steam://rungameid/17460
IconFile=C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam\games\c90dffafdc48bbe7733601b8b30354d995063209.ico

Yeah, I know, cry me a river. Shortcuts not working isn't a huge deal. But I don't like it when things stop working for no reason. It makes me wonder what else is going wrong with my files.

Another weird thing: two of my games, Morrowind and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines are saved to my C: Drive along with the Steam Client, and everything else is on a different hard disk. Morrowind had the exact same issue as all the other games on that other disk, but VtMB is totally unaffected.

[Ahlyssah]

Publicado originalmente por Aracron:

Okay, I went to Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs and selected "Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program". Found .url and chose "Internet Browser". Suddenly, all the steam icons resolved.

That worked! Everything is running as normal. Thanks, Aracron! May your kills be quick and many, and may your loot be rare.

Now if only we could fix Windows Update so easily . . .

[ディック吸盤]

Okey

[JamesXGames]

Publicado originalmente por Aracron:

Okay, I went to Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs and selected "Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program". Found .url and chose "Internet Browser". Suddenly, all the steam icons resolved.

This fixed it for me, thanks!

[Simple is GOD]

Publicado originalmente por Wynnda, Miko of the Gusta:

that's correct? it's supposed to be a url that's run through the steam client.

i think the just one mistake,you can not care that,man

[Magic]

thx , fixed it for me too

[Tev]

Publicado originalmente por 1298498944:

Publicado originalmente por Wynnda, Miko of the Gusta:

that's correct? it's supposed to be a url that's run through the steam client.

i think the just one mistake,you can not care that,man

While September post.

He wasn't wrong in saying they're supposed to be .url files, because they're supposed to be .url files. They run on using the steam://rungameid/<app-ID> browser protocol anyway.

If he didn't care, he wouldn't have bothered to help as long as he did. He obviously did and does care.

Just that for whatever reason (probably the aforementioned Windows Update), your default program that was associated with them was incorrect.

[✪M+]

hello

[SilverShadow4]

Publicado originalmente por Aracron:

Okay, I went to Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs and selected "Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program". Found .url and chose "Internet Browser". Suddenly, all the steam icons resolved.

I'm having this problem now, too. But my default for .url is already Internet Browser. Should I change it to Google Chrome since that's the one I use?
Edit: some of the shortcuts now work but still don't have proper icons. Others still just don't work. :(
Update 4 days later: I had been uninstalling and reinstalling all of my games one-by-one with relative success when both Windows and Steam updated again. It fixed the shortcuts for games I still had shortcuts for but when I want to make shortcuts, they function but still don't have a proper icon until I uninstall and reinstall that game.

[fuXstiCk]

Ok I shall educate you all. Windows pops up a installation for a .NET 3.5 fix (You can find it in Control Panel -> Programs and Features - > Turn windows features on/off -> .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) As soon as that's installed -> reboot and BOOM all your steam shortcuts become unable ./url files.

NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM... We can fix it properly people.

START -> Settings -> Apps -> Default Apps -> "Choose Defaul apps by file type"
Scroll down to .URL (which is probably blank) and change default to Internet Browser

GG boys =]

[Madam Chair]

Publicado originalmente por Aracron:

Okay, I went to Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs and selected "Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program". Found .url and chose "Internet Browser". Suddenly, all the steam icons resolved.

Thanks mate!

[♥♫Vladilen]

Publicado originalmente por Aracron:

Okay, I went to Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs and selected "Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program". Found .url and chose "Internet Browser". Suddenly, all the steam icons resolved.

this worked for me !

[car]

or to make it super easy, right click the steam shortcut (on the desktop obviously) then click "Properties" then click on "Change" then there should be a option called "Internet Browser" click that, then "Change" (or whatever the button says idk) and done, and this with a few and simple clicks