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)

Answer 1

Try this one on for size. I realise it's aimed at XP but it's worth a try.

Recently I've had several Windows XP computers that all of the sudden have their Internet Explorer Favorites or their Internet Shortcuts stop working. You see all of the Favorites however when you click on them IE does nothing.

Try this out if this is what you are seeing:

• Open Registry Editor and navigate to:
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShor­tcut
• Backup this key and save as REG file.
• Now delete 'InternetShortcut' key.
• Open Internet Explorer, Tools, Internet Options, Programs
• Choose "Reset Web Settings"
• The URL association should be rebuilt now.

Source: http://thetazblog.taznetworks.com/2005/04/internet-explorer-favorites-or.html