Fix: Dragging a Folder does not create Shortcut in Favorite Links in Vista

Posted on Sept. 8, 2008

In Windows Vista we have got Favorite Links under Windows Explorer where we can place shortcuts to folders for easy access. But I've seen a problem on some vista pc's where when i tried to create a link for a folder by dragging it in the Favorite Links area, the whole data inside that folder including sub-folders were moved to the Links folder which was not supposed to be.(see screenshot)

The solution of this lies in the Desktop.ini file in the Links folder. Open it with Notepad and look for the line DefaultDropEffect=4, if that's missing then copy and paste it after the line:


IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-185.


Now save the file.The DefaultDropEffect line sets the default drag-and-drop action. Setting it 4 creates a shortcut of the dragged folder in the Links folder.


After that right-click on the desktop.ini file and set its attribute to Read-only and Log off Windows. Now you should be able to create a link in the Favorite Links area by dragging a folder instead of moving it.(see screenshot)