Links vanishing in Windows 7

[Smiley89]

I've experienced a very strange issue with Windows 7, both on build 7000 x64 and 7048 x64.

This doesn't happen at first installation, but after some days of use.

The problem is, after a reboot, all the links vanished, both in Start Menu and Desktop. Only links related to Windows and Windows' components don't disappear.

The strangest thing is, all the program folders in start menu are still present, but they're all empty.

Apps pinned to the taskbar are still present too but they don't start (Windows asks me to unpin them from the taskbar since it can't find them).

I can only start applications by going to "Program Files (x86)" folder and manually rebuild the links.

Am I the only one who is experiencing the same issue?

Can this be related to some software I use?

Edited March 17, 2009 by Smiley89

[cluberti]

I've built over 100 Win7 machines with various builds, about 50/50 split between physical and VM hosts, and I've never seen it. I'd say it's very likely a software issue - what do you install on every build you do, specifically? Anything with filter drivers or explorer hooks?

[Smiley89]

Almost everything I installed on build 7048 was on build 7000 too. Here's the list:

For filter drivers, sorry but I don't even know what they are but, I remember that vLite uses a WIM filter driver. And the last apps I've installed are nLite 1.4.9.1 and booogy's WMP11 Slipstreamer 1.4i: can they be causing this issue? I haven't even used them yet, I only set up a nLite session for a XP x64 ISO but I didn't apply any setting except slipstreaming SP2.

[cluberti]

Well, that'd be the first thing I'd check - does a clean build repro? If it does, there are a few things you could do, including setting one of the files read-only and remove any NTFS permissions to any account but your own and run procmon with a filter on one to see who tries to access it, although that's a bit drastic, it'd work.

Since you have problems with both links and pinned items, I'd think testing a *clean* build is a good idea, followed by getting a bit more drastic. If it doesn't repro on a clean build over time, start adding apps until it does. Also, if you use this build in a VM, does it repro in a VM as well?

[dlsolo]

Have you disabled any services? I found that sometimes disabling a service or two will cause an ill effect on programs and the start menu.

Just my two cents...

[Smiley89]

@ dlsolo, I didn't touch the Services page. Default configuration is fine for me (at the moment).

@cluberti, I installed the system directly to my PC (no VM). If I have to make a clean install to test, I prefer to wait for the official RC. I don't have enough time to reinstall at the moment, and I wanted to try a newer build.

[Smiley89]

Sorry if I recover my old post...

I recently updated to build 7100 (RC), and yesterday I reinstalled nLite to make an updated XP CD. I integrated two update packs on an XP image with SP3 already slipstreamed, then built the ISO, and then rebooted. Links are still there.

Last time, I did a different thing: I integrated SP3 on an SP2 XP CD. Maybe the problem is not caused by nLite, but by the SP3 installer.

I will test it as soon as I can. Maybe they fixed the bug.