Reference: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2286198
To implement the workaround that disables .LNK and .PIF file functionality automatically on a computer that is running Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, or Windows Server R2.
Enable workaround Fix It
If want to undo the workaround, click on disable workaround Fix It
Or you can apply yourself by doing some changes on registry.
Enable Changes:
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then select the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\IconHandler
3. Click the File menu and then click Export.
4. In the Export Registry File dialog box, type LNK_Icon_Backup.reg and then click Save.
Note This will create a backup of this registry key in the My Documents folder by default .
5. Select the value (Default) on the right pane in the Registy Editor. Press ENTER to edit the value of the key. Delete the value, so that the value is blank, and press ENTER.
6. Locate and then select the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile\shellex\IconHandler
7. Click the File menu and then click Export.
8. In the Export Registry File dialog box, type PIF_Icon_Backup.reg and then click Save.
Note This will create a backup of this registry key in the My Documents folder by default
9. Select the value (Default) on the right pane in the Registy Editor. Press ENTER to edit the value of the key. Delete the value, so that the value is blank, and press ENTER.
Disable Changes:
How to undo the interactive method
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the File menu, click Import.
3. In the Import Registry File dialog box, select LNK_Icon_Backup.reg, and then click Open.
4. On the File menu, click Import.
5. In the Import Registry File dialog box, select PIF_Icon_Backup.reg, and then click Open.
6. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
How to manually reset the Registry key values to the default values
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\IconHandler
3. Reset the registry key value to:
{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
4. Locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile\shellex\IconHandler
5. Reset the registry key value to:
{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
6. Restart the computer
View full post on Web Security Weblog
