IE6 - Can't Drag and Drop (re-arrange) Favorites

[rolloman]

After using software called "Advanced Windows Care", I can't drag and drop or re-arrange my Favorites in IE6.

When I attempt to drag, I get a circle with a line through it and the favorite becomes faded and won't move.

Is there a registry entry to fix this problem?

Thanks---RM

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

Have you tried uninstalling the software?

Dan



Coedit Limited - Delivering standards compliant, accessible web solutions

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[rolloman]

I uninstalled the software and it didn't help. I also did a chkdsk and no change.

Any other ideas? Help with registry info on the IE6 favorites?

Thanks

RM

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

Did you try a System Restore to a point before you used AWC?

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[rolloman]

Unfortunately, I have my restore feature turned off because it caused problems with my system.

Doesn't anyone know the registry fixes for this problem?

Thanks,

RM

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

Try checking out some of the solutions here. - thread779-723934

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[rolloman]

Thanks IllogicallyLogical. Couldn't find my problem on that board.

After further troubleshooting, I've learned that my problem is only when signed onto my identity in XP Home. In my wife's and daughter's identities, you can drag and drop the favorites in IE7 fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks---RM

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

IE7 or IE6? Anyways this is probably something profile related, possibly some profile corruption. Try creating a new profile and copy the old profile over. Follow the steps in the KB article below. Remember to NOT copy the specified "Ntuser" files. See if that takes care of the problem.

- How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151/en-us

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[rolloman]

IllogicallyLogical---it's IE7

Anyway, tried copying to new profile...man that wasn't easy....almost lost my emails.

Didn't change Favorites drop and drag problem. Don't you think it might be a registry problem?

Thanks again.

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

Have you tried IE7 in "No Add Ons" mode? Go to Start >Programs >Accessories >System Tools >Internet Explorer (No Add Ons). Does the problem still occur in "No Add Ons" mode?

Try this....

- How to optimize or reset Internet Explorer 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936213/

Particularly try Method 4 to reset IE7 to default configuration.

If you want to check the registry out verify this entry.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Favorites

Log into the other accounts and verify this key against yours. Is there anything different?

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[rolloman]

Joey,

My IE7 is already running in no add-on mode. The registry values are the same on all three identities. I believe those values are for the menu order.

Do you know the registry value/string that edits the actual rearranging of Favorites in IE7?

Thanks again for your help.

RM

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

The key I referenced above is for the order of Favorites in IE. Windows stores the order of IE favorites in a binary format in the registry. Try deleting the key and see if functionality returns. Upon deleting the key, the favorites will sort in alphabetical order. The key will be recreated once you manually rearrange the Favorites.

Here are some links in reference to this key.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2092671,00.asp

http://www.arstdesign.com/articles/iefavorites.html

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[cdogg]

RM,
I think you are set on the idea that the problem is an incorrect or missing registry setting. May I ask why you are so sure? Did you do something in the registry that you're not telling us about?

Reading this over, it sounds like a permissions issue to me. Go into your profile under Documents and Settings. Right-click the Favorites folder and go to properties. If you have "Simple File Sharing" disabled in Windows, then you'll see a Permissions tab. Check to make sure your user ID is listed with FULL CONTROL (you may also want to click Advanced at the bottom and replace the permissions on all child objects).

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

He used Advanced Windows Care, which performs registry cleaning/repair amongst other tasks to "optimize" your computer.

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[rolloman]

cdogg,

I'm really not sure about the registry. Just a hunch, probably not correct.

I followed your instructions but couldn't find a simple file sharing or permissions option.

Could you possibly provide more instruction? Your permissions theory might work.

Thanks for the help. (Joey---don't worry...no more registry cleaners for me.)

RM

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

Windows XP Home only allows Simple File Sharing, you can not turn it off. If you really want to see if you have permissions to the Favorites folder, you could restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode (press F8 during the boot process right after the BIOS screen flashes up). Select the Administrator account from the Welcome Screen. Once you have logged in with the Admin account, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\%username% (%username% = your username). Right-click 'Favorites' and select Properties. Select the Security tab and find your username on the ACL. Do you have Full Control permissions? If not give yourself the proper permission and reboot into your account. This could be the issue, but I don't think so as I tried to simulate this on my Mom's XP Home machine and it completely removed access to the Favorites menu from Internet Explorer, rather than what is occurring with you.

Also try booting into your account in Safe Mode. Does this problem happen in Safe Mode?

Did you try checking the permissions of the Component Services? Start >Run > type dcomcnfg Expand Component Services, expand the Computers folder and right-click 'My Computer' and select Properties. Select the COM Security Tab and click 'Edit Default' under Access Permissions. Are both 'Self' and 'System' listed? Do they both have Allow permissions on Local Access?


Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[rolloman]

Joey,

I didn't try the permissions action because I'm afraid I might lose my favorites. I have a bunch.

Problem still in safe mode.

I checked the permissions in Component Services. When I right clicked on My Computer, it kicked me out back to the desktop...several time. This a problem?

Thanks for your persistence with this. I appreciate all your help.

RM

 

[cdogg]

Windows XP Home only allows Simple File Sharing, you can not turn it off.

This is true. I missed the claim that RM was using XP Home all the way down in his fourth post. So nevermind the permissions theory!

I'm sure Joey will continue to try to help locate a missing Windows or registry setting, but in all honesty, you will likely save time by backing up the files you have saved under each profile to CD and reloading Windows from scratch. The fact that you disabled System Restore has crippled an important time-saving option. You could try a "repair" install first, which doesn't touch any saved data. Then if that doesn't work, proceed with a clean install formatting the drive.

The only downside to a clean install is having to reinstall your applications. The upside is that you'll know you ironed out all the kinks that "Advanced Windows Care" created (even perhaps some you haven't yet discovered) and you'll save time, trust me. If you decide to go this route, look into making an image of your system once you get it back to the way you want it. So if anything happens again in the near future, you can restore from the image in minutes.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

If you just create a fresh, new user account and not copy any of your data over, does this still occur? Anyways, cdogg's words sound like gold to me. You could probably resolve this quicker by doing a repair install or a clean install. One thing you could try first is running System File Checker. Click Start >Run >type sfc /scannow (have your XP CD available as it will probably ask you to insert it). Other than that I would go with an In-Place Upgrade or repair install first as it does not delete any data. You will have to apply all Windows Updates again. Or if worse comes to worse, back up all your data and opt for a clean install.

- How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q315341/

Not to deter you from using software to clean up the registry in the future, but if you must and are not going to turn on System Restore, be sure to get a back-up program or export the registry before you modify it.

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP