.lnk on every file & cannot open anything

I think registry files went on perma-holidays.

My desktop's links to Firefox, CCleaner etc are now white pages with (mostly) .lnk as an extension.
The folders on desktop cannot be opened, right click does not offer "Open" option. Hovering the pointer on it does show what is inside with gigabyte count.

I cannot open "My Computer" either, double click does nothing.

Tried to restore system to earlier date vie Safe Mode, goes through the motions but in the end tells me it cannot go back and restore.

Through Safe Start > Command Prompt, I can look at the C Drive directories, everything seems to be there.

Through Safe Start > Command Prompt, I went to my backup drive D and ran Malwarebytes fast scan, showed 4 broken links, repaired but to no avail.

I have accessed Firefox because when I try to open a link, it says it can't then asks me if I want to search the web for solution, I picked that and it sends me File Association website.

Short of full OS restore, any opinions?

 

What is your Windows version?

Can you open Windows Explorer, e.g. using Windows key + E?

Have you tried booting into Last Known Good Configuration?

 

Never mind, I just restored the stupid thing via recovery disks: nothing doing otherwise, very odd problem.