How to run a link from .lnk file?

Yes, I'm with you on this one. My gut feeling tells me too that it's done thru COM, but unfortunately I'm not that well versed in it to know. (So if someone finds out, it'd be nice if you guys post it on this thread.) One way to know is to step into what Start -> Run does with a kernel mode debugger, since it can easily handle running those links. I just don't have time for it now :(

I confirm the problem dc_2000 described for XP sp3. Here is how I start links

1.For MS Word link

ShellExecute (NULL, NULL, link_path.lnk, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

The IShellLink::GetPath would return something like C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{00000409-78E1-11D2-B60F-006097C998E7}\wordicon.exe

this is valid file and running GetFileAttributes would return 33 which means FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ARCHIVE|FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY

2.for Dial-up Connection

IShellLink::GetPath returns empty string. Do IShellLink::GetIDList and then ShellExecuteEx with
ShExecInfo.fMask = SEE_MASK_IDLIST;


normal links can be launched ShellExecute (NULL, _T("open"), link_path.lnk, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

the folder C:\WINDOWS\Installer means something special for explorer because it is not showing it by default in folders tree. You can list the folder in cmd.exe also it is visible in DataRotunda (some file utility).

I am confused about the path.If it's ok then sometimes C++ creates some boring problem but critical.I have to know actually what happen.I will try if i get any problem with it.If you need any help to recover your lost data from you hard drive or anything else you can visit my site.Here it is.

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Thanks