# Need to put a Win XP registry key BACK  (heh)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-put-a-win-xp-registry-key-back-heh/520883>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 11, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-put-a-win-xp-registry-key-back-heh/520883 "2009-12-11T18:00:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-put-a-win-xp-registry-key-back-heh/520883/1 "2009-12-11T18:00:03Z")

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Without going into a detailed explanation of why I deleted it in the first place, (not that it’s embarrassing or anything)  
I need to put back the registry key “NeverShowExt” for shortcuts. Right now, they all say, “.lnk” and it’s driving me nuts.  
Windows XP Pro, SP2

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-put-a-win-xp-registry-key-back-heh/520883/2 "2009-12-11T18:13:52Z")

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> [@brujaja](#):
>
> Without going into a detailed explanation of why I deleted it in the first place, (not that it’s embarrassing or anything)  
> I need to put back the registry key “NeverShowExt” for shortcuts. Right now, they all say, “.lnk” and it’s driving me nuts.  
> Windows XP Pro, SP2
> 
> Thanks!

See if this is any help: [http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21512224](http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21512224)

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-put-a-win-xp-registry-key-back-heh/520883/3 "2009-12-12T09:20:01Z")

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Ah, the reason you’re supposed to back up your registry before making changes. 🆒

From what I can tell, all you need to do is open up HKEY\_CLASSES\_ROOT\lnkfile in regedit (just search for lnkfile), and right-click in the right pane and choose to create a new String called NeverShowExt. Leave its value blank.

You’ll have to restart your computer before you’ll see the change.

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**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-to-put-a-win-xp-registry-key-back-heh/520883/4 "2009-12-12T09:57:01Z")

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Copy and paste the following into a text file and then rename it to a .reg file. then double click and click OK on the message.

> [@](#):
>
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
> 
> [HKEY\_CLASSES\_ROOT\lnkfile]  
> “NeverShowExt”=“”