Why does this 'Favorite' link no longer work in IE7?

In IE6, I created a Favorite that would always open the link in a new IE
window. Now that I am using IE7 RC1, I am being prompted to download (Run,
Save, or Cancel) the IExplore.exe.

"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" -new
"http://atlmerc01/qcbin/start_a.htm"

Shouldn't Favorites work the way they used to?

 

I had this happen also and I deleted the links I had that would do that but
after reading your post I tried again. I RE-created the link by copying the
IE shortcut in my quicklaunch and pasting it where I had it before. It works
now the way it use to. I guess it doesn't like the IE6 link that was created
but deleting these original ones and creating new ones in IE7 appears to fix
the problem. For me anyway.

 

This does not solve the problem for me. Perhaps I am creating the link
differently than you. I have to create this through the file system by
browsing to my Favorites folder because the 'Add to Favorites' dialog doesn't
allow me to specify the URL and if I edit a Favorite link that was built to
target a web URL, I cannot change it to '"C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\iexplore.exe" -new "http://atlmerc01/qcbin/start_a.htm"' without it
giving me an error that the page doesn't exist.

What steps did you go through to create the new URL that worked for you?

Thanks!

-Kevin Buchan

 

Hi,
I've had better luck by starting with a shortcut to iexplore.exe. I've also
never used "-new" or put quotes around the URL.

Try this: Find "IExplore.exe"
Right-click and drag IExplore.exe to the desktop and choose "Create
shortcut." Right-click that shortcut> Properties> Target, modify the Target
to include the URL.
Example:
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE"
becomes
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" www.yahoo.com
Note a space between " and w

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

 

Sorry, it only worked for a short time. I tried them again later and it was
back to wanting to run iexplore.exe. I have tried Don Varnau's suggestion and
it seems to work so far. I have also rebooted to see if that would have an
affect on it but it didn't. The shortcuts created with his steps continue to
work AND open on a new window.

 

Thanks so much for the reply.

Unfortunately, with or without the "-new" (which I really need), IE7 still
asks to download 'iexplore.exe' instead of launching it, as IE6 did. If I
launch it from Windows Explorer, it works every time, of course, but not from
an IE favorite, like it used to.

It's a little annoying.

Thanks again.

-Kevin Buchan

 

Don also made the implied suggestion to try removing the quotes
(which are unnecessary in your case at least. In fact, I can't think
of a single valid case where they would be necessary.)

Did you try that?

Hmm... here's something related with .lnk files

I have a test Desktop shortcut (.lnk file) containing:

"%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" -new -nohome about:{whatever}

That works. Wrapping the URL in quotes works.
What doesn't work is reversing the order of the switches.
Weird. (IE7 is loaded with quirks like this. Bug it if you want to.)

My guess is that when your -new switch is combined with your
..URL file type action that you get a similar incompatibility.

Oh. I think I see a problem. Here is what I have for .URL file type's Open action:

rundll32.exe ieframe.dll,OpenURL %l

I doubt if there is room in that syntax for command line switches... ; }

Try using a .lnk (Desktop shortcut) instead.

What difference does it make? .lnk files can be used in Favorites
and will open fine.


....
Usability and compatibility have obviously not been major considerations
in the production of IE7. Our job is to document and find workarounds
for the veritable sea of quirks which have been created by it.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

Thanks for your lengthy reply!

Yes, I did. Still getting prompted to download 'iexplore.exe'.

It is a .lnk file. You cannot specify "-new" with a .url shortcut.

It opens fine in IE6, but not in IE7 RC1.
In IE6, I get a new window with the web page loaded.
In IE7, I get prompted to download iexplore, which is what this post is all
about. Why is there the change in functionality.


-Kevin Buchan

 

Apparently I was referring to the functionality via Link bar buttons

Ok. This is another post where I have been misled by the symptom
description. The problem is not that .lnk files "no longer work".
They can still be used. The problem is that there are some new security
prompts which you didn't have before. So now you would like to try to find
a way to avoid them.

I have recreated that symptom. Into a subfolder of Favorites
(actually a subfolder of the Links folder) I copied my Desktop shortcut
for About:{whatever}. Now when I try to use that (either clicking on it
or via the keyboard) I get a prompt:
File Download Security Warning - Do you want to run or save this file?
Typing R (or clicking on Run) gets (bizarrely):
Security warning - The publisher could not be verified. Are you sure you want to run this software?
Typing R (or clicking on Run) finally achieves the desired end result.


So, I think a clearer Subject for this discussion would have been:
Why do .lnk files in Favorites cause security prompts in IE7rc1?

Has anybody tried testing yet with a .lnk to an executable which *does have*
a publisher which can be verified? <EG>


Robert
---

 

Typing R (or clicking on Run) gets (bizarrely):

I just get a blank browser. The url passed on the command line to the
executable does not get launched.

I actually think a better subject would be:
Why was the behavior for .lnk files in Favorites changed without
recourse in IE7?

For my customers, when behavior changes from from release to another,
without a perceived improvement, then it's "broken", whether it's working as
designed or not. IMO, a .lnk file referencing a local executable should work
as it has in the past... PERHAPS warning me the first time it's launched, but
giving me the opportunity to check a box and get the IE6 behavior.

-Kevin