Favorites in Internet Explorer won't take me to location

Question

Specs: Windows 7 x64 IE 9 (using x86 version)

For some reason, whenever I click on a .url file, it will not take me to the destination. It doesn't even open a blank tab. It doesn't do anything. All of the favorites now have a generic globe icon. (Not sure what this implies, if anything at all.)

In an attempt to resolve this issue I have done the following:

• Ran a virus scan (clean)
• Ran a malware scan (clean)
• Check default program for .url (Set to IE)
• Checked the favorites registry entry (All set)
• Reset my IE settings (Did not delete personal info)
• Created new favorite files (New ones were just as broken)
• "Uninstalled" and reinstalled IE
• Ran Windows Updates (None for IE, but did update some stuff anyways)

Solution

I saw this was unanswered from a past life. I ended up rebuilding my machine. Clean install of OS. A bit of a drastic solution, but that is what worked.

Comments

[Easternwind]

Thanks for the article, but sadly it did not work for me. What a great find though!

[bertieb]

Thanks for the answer, but can you describe how to reset those settings in your answer here? :)

[Lucas]

@bertieb Sure, just did.