It will first remove desktop shortcuts that have not been used for at least three months. System Maintenance will also remove broken shortcuts on the desktop if there are more than four of them. The problem with the latter is that Windows 7 will recognize shortcuts to disconnected network locations as broken and also shortcuts that link to shell folders.

Microsoft offers two solutions to the problem. The first advice is to keep the number of broken shortcuts below four. This is not always possible due to the problems with broken shortcuts mentioned above.

The second suggestion by Microsoft is to turn off Computer Maintenance:

• Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
• Under System and Security, click Find and fix problems.
• On the left navigation pane, click Change settings.
• Set Computer Maintenance to Off.

This does however turn off all other computer maintenance related tasks like checking the system time, disk volume errors or the disk space error reports.

All the maintenance tasks are powered by scripts that are located in c:\windows\Diagnostics\Scheduled\Maintenance\. Options are to edit the scripts directly in that directory. The permissions prohibit that the files are edited by the current user.

Fixing Windows 7 Desktop Shortcuts Disappearing

Please note: This is a hack which might have consequences on other parts of the operating system. Everything worked fine afterwards on the test system but make sure to backup the files properly before editing them

First we need to take control of the files so that we can edit them. To do that you need to take ownership first and then modify the access rights of the current user so that the files can be modified.

The first part can be automated. Just download the script at this forum and execute it. This should add a Take Ownership entry to the right-click menu in Windows Explorer.

Go to C:\Windows\diagnostics\scheduled\Maintenance in Windows Explorer after installing the script and right-click the file TS_BrokenShortcuts.ps1. Select the Take Ownership option which should transfer ownership to the logged in user.

The user still does not have permissions to save the file which means that we have to complete the next step as well before we can edit the broken shortcuts Powerscript file so that it will not delete broken shortcuts automatically.

Open an elevated command line prompt. You do that by clicking on the Start orb, All Programs, then Accessories. Right-click the Command Prompt link and select to Run As Administrator.

Now issue the following command to grant the active user full rights of the file. Make sure you replace USERNAME with the name of the active user.

icacls c:\windows\diagnostics\scheduled\maintenance\TS_BrokenShortcuts.ps1 /grant USERNAME:F

Now you can edit the file normally in a text editor like Notepad. Open it and locate the line (line 11)

[string]$list = ""

Delete everything below that is below that line up to (line 22)

return $list

The lines that are deleted are:

Get-ChildItem -Path $path -filter *.lnk | Foreach-Object {
$fullPath = ConvertTo-WQLPath $_.FullName
$wmiLinkFile = Get-WmiObject -query "SELECT Name,Target,AccessMask FROM Win32_ShortcutFile WHERE Name = '$fullPath'"

if(-not(Test-ValidLink $wmiLinkFile) -and (Test-Delete $wmiLinkFile))
{
$list = AttachTo-List $list $wmiLinkFile.Name
}
}

This basically returns a blank list to the script so that no shortcuts get deleted. I have tested it with five broken shortcuts and they have not been deleted after running system maintenance.

That fixed the broken shortcuts but we still have the issue that shortcuts that have not been used for some time are deleted by Windows 7 as well.

We have to (almost) perform the same operation here. Locate the file TS_UnusedDesktopIcons.ps1 in the same directory. Take ownership of it and grant the active user access rights.

Edit the file afterwards and locate the line (24)

[string]$list = ""

Delete everything up to line (35)

return $list

so that the following lines get deleted

Get-ChildItem -Path $path -filter *.lnk | Foreach-Object {
$fullPath = ConvertTo-WQLPath $_.FullName
$wmiLinkFile = Get-WmiObject -query "SELECT Name,Target,AccessMask FROM Win32_ShortcutFile WHERE Name = '$fullPath'"
$lastAccessTime = Get-LastAccessTime $_.FullName

if((Test-ValidLink $wmiLinkFile) -and (Test-Delete $wmiLinkFile) -and (Test-FileShortcut $wmiLinkFile) -and (Test-Unused $lastAccessTime $threshold))
{
$list = AttachTo-List $list $wmiLinkFile.Name
}
}

Please note that I did not test the second script but it should work just as fine.

This should resolve all issues that users have with removed shortcuts on the Windows 7 desktop.

Make sure you backup the files properly before you edit them. Please let me know if this worked for you or if you have a better idea on how to fix the deleted shortcut problem in Windows 7.

This additional data can slow down a computer system. A simple example would be the startup entries that grow over time as more and more programs add entries to the list of programs that gets executed at startup. But that’s just one of the many problems that computer users face, they also have to take care of hard drive defragmentation, temporary files, invalid Registry entries, broken shortcuts and a plethora of other computer maintenance related issues.

Today’s giveaway is IObit’s Advanced
SystemCare PRO, a very popular system maintenance software for the Windows operating system.

The main interface of Advanced System Care Pro will be displayed upon program start.

It contains links to the different sections and a system overview that informs the user about the program version, last scan, database date and the status of exclusive features.

The program itself is divided into the three modules Maintain Windows, Diagnose System and Utilities which can be accessed on the left side of the interface. This interface sports a Care button as well which can be used to perform an express cleanup of the computer system.

Experienced users should pay a visit to the options on the first start to configure the program to their liking.

This ranges from general settings that include configuring the context menu entries in Windows Explorer to service specific settings like excluding items from the Registry scan or configuring automated care settings.

Maintain Windows

This is the first module in Advanced System Care Pro. It contains functions to scan for and remove spyware, fix the Windows Registry, perform a so called Privacy Sweep and clean up junk files.

• Spyware Removal: Will perform a system wide scan for spyware. Spyware that has been found – this includes tracking cookies, toolbars and even programs, can be removed instantly or investigated further in a separate window with options to exclude items from the removal.
• Registry Fix: Scans the Windows Registry for invalid entries with an option to defragment the Registry after removing those invalid entries to reduce the size of it which will in turn speed up the system start.
• Privacy Sweep: Similar to CCleaner. It will check for traces that have been left behind by various programs including web browsers like Internet Explorer or Firefox, the Windows operating system and applications like MS Office, Java or Flash.
• Junk Files Clean: Checks for temporary files in the Windows Recycle Bin, Windows temporary files and Internet Explorer temporary files.

Advanced System Care Pro will create a backup before it starts the cleanup process. This is important as it makes it possible for the user to restore the backup at a later time in case that problems are experienced.

Diagnose System

Diagnose System is the second module that is offered by Advanced System Care Pro. It contains the following options:

• System Optimization: Will check for non-standard system settings and system optimizations. This includes Windows Interface, Windows Services and System Configuration optimizations. It will for instance recommend disabling certain Windows Services that are not needed to run the operating system or Windows interface enhancements like reducing the delay when menus are opened.
• Security Defense: Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted pests; Block spyware, tracking cookies in Internet Browsers; Restrict the actions of potentially dangerous sites in Internet Explorer.
• Disk Defragment: Performs a disk defragmentation of the computer system.
• Security Analyzer: Similar to Hijack This. Will display critical system components.

Utilities

Links to utilities that are further divided into the three categories Tuneup, Security and Admin Tools.

Tuneup:

• Disk Check
• Disk Cleaner
• Game Booster
• Internet Booster
• Iobit Security 360
• Smart Defrag
• Iobit Registry Defrag
• Shortcut Fixer
• Smart Ram

Security:

• Driver Backup
• IE Security Assistant
• System Backup
• System File Checker

Admin Tools:

• Auto Shutdown
• Cloned files Finder
• Context Menu Manager
• Disk Explorer
• Restore Center
• Software Uninstaller
• Startup Manager
• System Information
• Windows Manager

Those are lots of options in one place. Not all are needed by every user but some make it a lot easier to optimize and customize a Windows operating system.

One of the greatest strengths of Advanced System Care Pro is the ability to run automated optimizations. Advanced users can configure those in the program’s settings to perform optimizations only in specific areas.

Advanced System Care Pro is a very comprehensive system maintenance and optimization software for the Windows operating system. The default and advanced settings make it ideal for beginners and experienced computer users alike.

Christmas Giveaway

This giveaway is all about speed. We were able to get 1000 licenses for Advanced System Care Pro. Just visit the giveaway page over at Iobit to get a license for the system maintenance program.

Over at Windows7news.com we are giving away a $200 Linksys router and Media Monkey Gold, A-squared Anti Malware and Acronis Disk Director Suite 10 plus Acronis True Image.

Raju is giving away Cute FTP 8 today, make sure you check out his giveaway as well.

Advanced System Care divides the computer maintenance process in three different categories that are named Maintain Windows, Diagnose System and Utilities.

Maintain Windows includes a spyware checker, Registry cleanup tool, privacy sweeper and junk file cleaner. This category comes closest to the popular CCleaner application. The program will automatically scan the system for problems upon startup. Findings are displayed in red indicating problems and Megabytes that can be saved if the repair button is pressed.

It is furthermore possible to click on a function to take a closer look at the problems and files that have been found during the scan. This makes it possible to remove entries from the repair. Advanced System Care will also remind the the user if System Restore is disabled.

A click on the repair button will initiate a backup before the problems are fixed on the computer system.

The diagnose system window offers system optimization, security defense, disk defragment and security analyzer functions. A scan will display detected problems offering the same functionality as the maintain windows menu to view them in detail, remove some and repair them.

The system optimization menu scans for problems in various categories including network connections, Windows services or troubleshooting. Not all recommendations should be accepted right away as the optimizer might suggest corrections for enhancements made by the user. A simple example would be the suggestion to change the time it takes to show the start menu from 1 to the recommended value of 200.

Users should take a look at all the settings before they press the repair button.

The same can be said for the security defense scan in the same category and the suggestions made by the security analyzer. This does mean that it takes additional time before the remaining problems can be repaired but it is important to avoid complications and other problems.

The utilities category offers quick access to tools offered by the Windows operating system and Iobit including an Internet and Game Booster, Registry defragmentation or a startup manager.

Advanced System Care Free is an interesting program that provides access to many computer maintenance scans that can improve a systems reliability, security and stability. It is recommended to check the scan results thoroughly before proceeding with the repair.

via Online Tech Tips

The software provides access to various tools that repair so called “problems”, make the computer faster and fix security vulnerabilities. You are asked for example at the first start after installing System Mechanic 8 to perform a scan of your system.

That scan is detecting security vulnerabilities (automatic updates service not running), Registry problems, System Clutter but also unnecessary startup items and an unoptimized Internet speed. The user has the choice to let System Mechanic handle the errors and repair them automatically or view a list of the errors that have been found and correct them on a one on one basis which is definitely recommended.

Users who download and install System Mechanic will spend some time exploring all the menus and tools that are available.

Several of those tools that are provided by the software are available in free versions as well. Say CCleaner for removing system clutter or Regfrag to defragment the Windows Registry.

Raymond discovered a way to grab a free copy of System Mechanic 8 including license code that is good for six months. Here is a quick rundown of the process. I suggest you visit Raymond’s website if you are stuck somewhere because he explains the process in details.

• Visit the System Mechanic Promotional page and click through the process. You have to enter some data like name, email. In the end the serial number will be send to your inbox.
• Grab the latest version of System Mechanic 8 from this download site.
• Install it, use the serial number from the email to activate it.