If you can access your Windows Settings, you can boot into Safe mode by clicking the Start menu and going to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Restart Now. When your PC restarts, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. When prompted after reboot, press 5 or F5 to start Safe Mode with Networking. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source If you can’t access Settings, reboot your PC to the sign-in screen. Once you’re prompted to log in, hold down Shift as you click Power > Restart. When the PC restarts, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. When prompted after reboot, press 5 or F5 to start Safe Mode with Networking.

Click Done when you’re finished installing. Malwarebytes will then launch automatically.

Click Done when you’re finished installing. Malwarebytes will then launch automatically.

It’s possible that you’ll still experience . LNK errors even after the threats were removed. If so, try using a broken shortcut fixer or running a registry fix.

Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type Control Panel. Click OK.

If you see an error that says you don’t have System Restore configured, you won’t be able to use this method. But don’t worry—you can continue with any of the other methods.

If you click Scan for affected programs with a restore point selected, you’ll see which programs you’ve installed since Windows created that restore point. All of these programs will be removed from your PC if you complete the restore, but your personal files and other programs will be safe. If you don’t see a good candidate, check the box next to “Show more restore points” at the bottom. [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source

If this doesn’t solve the . LNK problem, you can continue to another method.

Click Finish after installing and the app will launch instantly.

If a shortcut cannot be fixed, you’ll see the word “Error” to the right of its name. Also, a checkbox will remain next to the file to indicate that it’s still selected, while the fixed files will no longer have shortcuts. You can repair any of the “Error” shortcuts manually by reassociating those . lnk files with the apps or files they are supposed to point to. To do this, click one of the error files, then click Fix Shortcut. Choose the correct file, folder, or app, then click Open to select it.

Press Windows key + R. Type cmd but don’t press Enter. Press Control + Shift + Enter at the same time. Click Yes to open the command prompt.

Press Windows key + R. Type regedit and press Enter. Click Yes.

Click the View menu and make sure “Address Bar” is selected. When this feature is on, you’ll see an address bar at the top or bottom of the Registry Editor that says “Computer. " Type or paste this key into the address bar: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts. lnk If that doesn’t work, you can navigate there manually—in the left panel, click HKEY_CURRENT_USER, click Software, click Microsoft, click Windows, click CurrentVersion, click Explorer, click FileExts, then click . lnk.