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ITsVISTA KB-Link: KB936881

Error message when you open an Internet shortcut file on a computer that has Internet Explorer 7 installed: “Problem with Shortcut The target ” of this Internet Shortcut is not valid”

On a computer that has Internet Explorer 7 installed, you click a hyperlink that links to an Internet shortcut file. Then, you save the shortcut file to the local disk. When you double-click the shortcut file, you cannot open the file. Additionally, you receive an error message that resembles the following:

Problem with Shortcut
The target “” of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is correct.

If you examine the properties of the Internet shortcut file when this problem occurs, the Type of file field indicates that the file type is Internet Shortcut (.url). However, the Web Document tab may disappear. Also, on the Details tab, the URL string may disappear.

There is a download that resolves this issue. See Hotfixes for details.
64-Bit Download: Contact Microsoft
This issue is resolved in SP1.

For more information on this issue, including potential causes, workarounds, and resolutions, see: Microsoft KB Article KB936881.

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Comments

  • Gary Teal

    Apr 22, 2009 at 11:35 am

    I have this problem with SP1 installed and I am using IE8. The problem started with IE7 now I use IE8 and the problem is still there. Uninstalled SP1 like instructed to by Microsoft techs. Reinstalled SP1 and still the problem is there. Hot fix is only for 32 bit software I use Vista Ultimate 64 bit.

  • Gully Foyle

    Dec 16, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    Same issue, now with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit and IE8. Microsoft has no current fix.

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