Windows Explorer crashes when I enter certain folder

I've ended up with what Windows Vista deems a 'corrupt' shortcut in one of my file folders and every time I try to enter this folder, Windows Explorer crashes, meaning the important files that are in there (with the .lnk), are no longer accessible to me.

I've tried logging off, restarting, booting up in safe mode, and also browsing through the 'open file' window in Word (just in case) to attempt to delete the offending .lnk shortcut file, but to no avail. I simply cannot stay in the folder for a fraction of a second before explorer crashes and must quit.

I had this problem once before and I took the easy way out: deleted the whole folder and reinstalled the program that was in there. This time it isn't so easy, as I have a large amount of files within this cursed folder that cannot be accessed from anywhere else...

Help!


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More info if required:

What caused the problem is frankly, pretty ridiculous - I decided I wanted a shortcut to a location one directory ahead of a shortcut I already had. So, I shift + ctrl dragged a target folder to create a new shortcut into a folder that already contained a shortcut to the same location only one directory back (got all that?). I then deleted the older shortcut and tried to rename the new one. The instant that was done, windows got all confused and crashed. Now, every single time I attempt to enter this folder, just having a 'corrupt' shortcut in there crashes windows explorer instantly.

As I said, this problem has afflicted me twice now. Just the fact that the shortcut is sitting there is enough to crash explorer. Why the heck does it check the file on the off-chance that I'll use it, instead of waiting for me to double-click the shortcut and THEN crash - that would make more sense...

 

Start task manager and kill the explorer process from within there. Then open a command prompt from the task manager (file > new task > cmd). With the command prompt, navigate to the offending folder and delete the shortcut file. Then restart the explorer process from the task manager (new task > explorer).

Literally just had this issue.

If you are unsure of command prompt commands,

cd "folder name" goes inside the folder,
cd .. goes from the current folder to the parent folder
del "file name" deletes a file,
rd "folder name" /s deletes folder and all files in it (yes/no prompt will display)

 

Thank you ever so much! I'll remember this if it happens again.

It took a few attempts as I am not too good with the command prompt and forgot how to look in the D Drive, and I was trying del "filename.lnk" instead of just del "filename"

I figured it all out though. Thanks again!

 

dir = 'look' or list the files in the drive or folder that the command prompt is currently in

Bookmark this list of commands for XP for future reference.