How do you remove the links folder from Internet Explorer?

[Sgt_Strider]

How do you guys remove the links folder? I've tried the registry tweaks and even used nlite to remove it, but it just won't work. I've asked for help in the past, but no one has been able to solve my problem. Is this folder impossible to remove?

[EchoNoise]

You can just right click on the folder.. and then set the hidden attribute to it

[Sgt_Strider]

You can just right click on the folder.. and then set the hidden attribute to it

It's a good idea, but I want the folder deleted. If I want to hide it, how do I do it unattendedly?

[tommyp]

A winnt.sif with the proper switches will prevent 90% of the pre-installed links. The "media" links are part of the WMP installation inf.

[PITU]

You could also create a nullfile called "Links" in your Favorites-Folder. No Program should be able to create the Links-Folder.

[Sgt_Strider]

A winnt.sif with the proper switches will prevent 90% of the pre-installed links. The "media" links are part of the WMP installation inf.

Some details?

You could also create a nullfile called "Links" in your Favorites-Folder. No Program should be able to create the Links-Folder.

Some details please?

[Yzöwl]

You could also create a nullfile called "Links" in your Favorites-Folder. No Program should be able to create the Links-Folder.

Some details please?

Use this as your clean up command!

@ECHO OFF
FOR /F "DELIMS=" %%? IN (
  'DIR/B/S/AD "%USERPROFILE%\.." ^|FINDSTR/LIE "FAVORITES\LINKS" 2^>NUL') DO (
  IF ERRORLEVEL 0 (CALL :KILLIT "%%~dp?"))
GOTO :EOF
:KILLIT
PUSHD %1
RD/S/Q LINKS &&(>Links TYPE NUL &(ATTRIB +S +R +H LINKS))
POPD &GOTO :EOF

[Sgt_Strider]

You could also create a nullfile called "Links" in your Favorites-Folder. No Program should be able to create the Links-Folder.

Some details please?

Use this as your clean up command!

@ECHO OFF
FOR /F "DELIMS=" %%? IN (
  'DIR/B/S/AD "%USERPROFILE%\.." ^|FINDSTR/LIE "FAVORITES\LINKS" 2^>NUL') DO (
  IF ERRORLEVEL 0 (CALL :KILLIT "%%~dp?"))
GOTO :EOF
:KILLIT
PUSHD %1
RD/S/Q LINKS &&(>Links TYPE NUL &(ATTRIB +S +R +H LINKS))
POPD &GOTO :EOF

Do you mean place what you have typed into a cleanup.cmd file?

[mraeryceos]

How the Links toolbar can be useful (though i'm showing Firefox):

http://home.earthlink.net/~storageplace/links.jpg

or see attached.

[gunsmokingman]

You could also run this vbs script I have included a error message in it.

Dim Act : Set Act = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
Dim Flinks : Flinks = Act.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%UserProfile%\Favorites\Links")
Dim Fso : Set Fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 If Fso.FolderExists(Flinks) Then
   Fso.DeleteFolder(Flinks), True 
 Else
  MsgBox "No Links Folder, Please Re-Run After You Have Log On" & vbCrLf &_
   "You need the Desktop Loaded Once So The Folder is Made.", 0 + 48, "No Desktop Loaded"
 End If

This vbs script will self delete it self after it has ran, if it ran from Systemdrive

I have made this script into a SFX file

Dim Act : Set Act = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
Dim Flinks : Flinks = Act.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%UserProfile%\Favorites\Links")
Dim FlinkVBS : FlinkVBS = Act.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%Systemdrive%\DeleteLinksV1.vbs")
Dim Fso : Set Fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 If Fso.FolderExists(Flinks) Then
   Fso.DeleteFolder(Flinks), True 
 Else
  MsgBox "No Links Folder, Please Re-Run After You Have Log On" & vbCrLf &_
   "You need the Desktop Loaded Once So The Folder is Made.", 0 + 48, "No Desktop Loaded"
 End If  
 If Fso.FileExists(FlinkVBS) Then Fso.DeleteFile(FlinkVBS) End If

This vbs script will just delete the folder with no error message and the VBS file.

Dim Act : Set Act = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
  Dim Flinks : Flinks = Act.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%UserProfile%\Favorites\Links")
  Dim FlinkVBS : FlinkVBS = Act.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%Systemdrive%\DeleteLinksV2.vbs")
  Dim Fso : Set Fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
   If Fso.FolderExists(Flinks) Then Fso.DeleteFolder(Flinks), True End If
   If Fso.FileExists(FlinkVBS) Then Fso.DeleteFile(FlinkVBS) End If

Edited June 18, 2006 by gunsmokingman

[leo29]

Just save this and double clik on it.

Once you delte the 'Limks' folder, it will be be re-created again.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar]

"LinksFolderName"=""

[oneless]

..."LinksFolderName"=""

Thanks for the tip.

More usefull for me is to rename <Links> to <MSFN> for example.

I tried with MSFN_2 (MSFN already exist)

and when i open IE6, the folder MSFN_2 was there .

and

Welcome to MSFN @leo29.

[Sgt_Strider]

Just save this and double clik on it.

Once you delte the 'Limks' folder, it will be be re-created again.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar]

"LinksFolderName"=""

I wish it was that simple. That registry tweak doesn't work.

[oneless]

... That registry tweak doesn't work.

i tested it in three different computers. manually(regedit) .

and works in my case.

how do you tested it for not working ?

[Sgt_Strider]

... That registry tweak doesn't work.

i tested it in three different computers. manually(regedit) .

and works in my case.

how do you tested it for not working ?

No joke, I enter that registry tweak into my file and after Windows finish installing and I click on IE, there is the IE folder.