How to disable shortcut overlay in Vista

[MrIgoe]

Thats all I wanted to ask.

The registries are different than in XP, I tried the route I went with then, and its no go.

Iconpackager doesnt work either...

[ByteSurfer]

Create a .reg file and copy following text into it and REBOOT

(You have to reboot to the see the changes) :yes:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]

"IsShortcut"=-

[MrIgoe]

Yup thats it muchos gracias.

Also as an aside, why are some folders green and others regular manilla?

[Herby]

Remove the arrow (Shortcut Overlay) without side effects (Vista RCx 32 & 64-bit)

Most Tweak programs remove the arrows by renaming or removing the IsShortCut String Values from the registry.

Windows uses this value to track links, if you remove or rename the IsShortCut value lots of programs and features that use links won't work correctly -> in Vista the shortcuts in Favorite Links, Media Center and in the Games Explorer won't work anymore.

The files in the zip file below remove the arrows the same way as TweakUI does in previous Windows versions; it refers the icon to another icon.

If you refer it to a completely blank icon, the overlays turn black when you restart Explorer or Log Off and Log On again.

Solution: I've created a blank icon with some transparent pixels and with the same sizes as the default arrow (imageres.dll,162) -> no more arrows & no black overlays. :)

Install: If you used a program or a reg file that removed the IsShortCut values; merge RestoreArrow.reg to restore them.

Copy Blank.ico to your Windows directory and merge RemoveArrow.reg.

Log Off and Log On or Restart your computer.

Uninstall: Merge RestoreArrow.reg and remove Blank.ico from your Windows directory.

Log Off and Log On or Restart your computer.

Edit: Sometimes it's not enough to Log Off and Log On or Restart your computer to rebuild the icon cache.

If the overlays display a wrong icon or if they don't change then turn off your computer and turn it on again.

More tweaks @ Vista - Tips, Tricks & Tweaks

RemoveArrow.zip

[.Neo]

Thanks. That thing is taking up freakin' 1/4 of the actual icon! The fact that it's a shortcut is almost more dominant than to what application it links to. :wacko:

[jordanspringer]

hmmm i want my shortcuts to look like shortcuts, but thats just my opinion.

[chavo]

hmmm i want my shortcuts to look like shortcuts, but thats just my opinion.

Then this is not the thread for you. Just hit the back button there buddy, that's a great shortcut that keeps you from wasting everyone's time.

Thanks.

[markm7]

Create a .reg file and copy following text into it and REBOOT

(You have to reboot to the see the changes) :yes:

Doing this will also remove your Favorite Links in Explorer :no:

The way Herby does it works best

[Lenin91]

WHat a bumb, but yes.. im using the herby way.. works great no side effects

[BFREEXXX]

Thanx Herby, your tip works great! No black square like fxvisor and tweakvi doesn't install without screeen height being under 768 pix (my lcd only does 720). Goodbye to huge shorcut arrows! How much easier can it get?! Thanx Again!

[Herby]

Thanx Herby, your tip works great! No black square like fxvisor and tweakvi doesn't install without screeen height being under 768 pix (my lcd only does 720). Goodbye to huge shorcut arrows! How much easier can it get?! Thanx Again!

You're welcome,.. & welcome to Neowin! :)

I've posted the fix @ the FxVisor Blog, they should release a new version this week.

+ TweakVI removes the IsShortCut String Value! :pinch:

[FOOOD]

Hoping someone can help here,

I created a custom ligher shortcut arrow overlay & used Herby's .reg file to replace the standard Vista one.

The smaller sizes are fine

But for the 'Large Icons' & 'Extra Large Icons' views the arrow is cut off at the top

I've double checked the icon file & none of the image sizes are cut off in there. I don't think it's displaying the correct icon size for the larger versions, because for those sizes in the icon that I made they are larger than the cut off version displayed in the screenshot (And there seems to be extra space between the arrow & the icon :wacko: )

What I mean is if it was resized down from the 256x256 version it would look like the one on the left, but the one that's actually displayed & cut off is the version on the right.

Maybe it would be easier to see if there's a Vista compatible version of Reshacker & try to replace the icon in the .dll file? :huh:

[Herby]

@ FOOOD: The default overlay icon sizes are 16x16, 32x32, 48x48 (4, 8 & 32 bits) + 256x256 (Vista?).

Did you use all the sizes?

[FOOOD]

Yea, I have all those sizes. I've also tried opening then saving the icon in different icon apps to see if it had any better results. But no.

The icon can be downloaded here in case anyone wants to take a look at it.

[Herby]

I can't test it atm but you could try adding the sizes 64x64, 72x72, 96x96 & 128x128.

[MaCtHeMaC]

I tried to use Herbys reg file to remove the shortcut arrow but when i restarted the PC the icons had a blank icon on top of them shortcuts ?

This what i've done.

1- Ive ad the the file Blank.ico to C:\Windows.

2- I've ad the file RemoveArrow.reg to the same folder and then i merged to the registry.

3- Restarted PC and the arrow was gone but had a blank icon on top of the original icon.

I've done this twice and nothing, does not work!

P.S- What am i doing wrong ?

Please help me out guys.

Thank you.

[Lenin91]

What i do and works every time:

1. Unpack all files to a folder on desktop.

2. Copy blank.ico to C:\Windows\ and C:\Windows\System32\

3. Adds RemoveArrow.reg to reg

4. Let the files (.reg's) stay in folder on desktop,

5. Reboot/Re-login

6. Should be working now.

[MaCtHeMaC]

Thank you for tying to help Lenin91 but it didnt work aswell.

I've done exactly like you said and still not working.

The shortcut arrow goes away but i get a blank icon on top of the original.

This is weird, dont know what to do now.

Thank you.

[FOOOD]

I can't test it atm but you could try adding the sizes 64x64, 72x72, 96x96 & 128x128.

Yea, I've tried adding those sizes & still get the same problem :/

[Lenin91]

Thank you for tying to help Lenin91 but it didnt work aswell.

I've done exactly like you said and still not working.

The shortcut arrow goes away but i get a blank icon on top of the original.

This is weird, dont know what to do now.

Thank you.

the icon is suppos to be blank, can you post a pic

[MaCtHeMaC]

Lenin91 it works now, i've done everything you said plus i ad the blank.ico into the C:\Windows\System32 aswell and it works now.

I really appreciate you help.

Thank you.

P.S- I've just ad a shot of it, take a look.

[eilegz]

Remove the arrow (Shortcut Overlay) without side effects (Vista RCx 32 & 64-bit)

Most Tweak programs remove the arrows by renaming or removing the IsShortCut String Values from the registry.

Windows uses this value to track links, if you remove or rename the IsShortCut value lots of programs and features that use links won't work correctly -> in Vista the shortcuts in Favorite Links, Media Center and in the Games Explorer won't work anymore.

The files in the zip file below remove the arrows the same way as TweakUI does in previous Windows versions; it refers the icon to another icon.

If you refer it to a completely blank icon, the overlays turn black when you restart Explorer or Log Off and Log On again.

Solution: I've created a blank icon with some transparent pixels and with the same sizes as the default arrow (imageres.dll,162) -> no more arrows & no black overlays. :)

Install: If you used a program or a reg file that removed the IsShortCut values; merge RestoreArrow.reg to restore them.

Copy Blank.ico to your Windows directory and merge RemoveArrow.reg.

Log Off and Log On or Restart your computer.

Uninstall: Merge RestoreArrow.reg and remove Blank.ico from your Windows directory.

Log Off and Log On or Restart your computer.

Edit: Sometimes it's not enough to Log Off and Log On or Restart your computer to rebuild the icon cache.

If the overlays display a wrong icon or if they don't change then turn off your computer and turn it on again.

More tweaks @ Vista - Tips, Tricks & Tweaks

followed the instruction there but it dont work at all it appears a thing over every icon or shortcut wich its more annoying anyone can help me =/

[Hoang V Nguyen]

Downloading it , thanks you