Cannot show any pinned application to Start Menu or Taskbar

Question

I am trying to fix a problem on a Windows 7 machine (which is not mine, so I don't know what it has been done on it, but it is in reasonably working shape and up-to-date with Windows updates and antivirus definitions).

The problem is that all pinned applications in Start Menu and Taskbar disappeared. If I pin any other application, it doesn't show up. The folders in "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned" still contain all the shortcuts, so it's just Windows not showing them.

As suggested in this question, I tried deleting all shortcuts and putting them back, but it had no effect. Another source on the Web suggested that the cause might be a deleted registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile and suggested recreating it via regedit, but it is already there.

Edit: There appears to be more than that: apparently user settings are not saved, as I set up Firefox as the default browsing application but it keeps asking me that every time it is started. According to this article in the MS kb, it might be because the current user is not member of the workstation's group Users. I fixed this but it didn't resolve the problem. BTW, the current user has Administrator rights.

Answer 1

This is a Microsoft bug that apparently has many reasons and solutions. Here are some solutions that you could try, but there is no guarantee that your problem is one of them :

1) Reset and Clear All Items in Windows 7 Jump Lists

Essentially, you must go to both:

%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations
%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations

and delete all files from both folders (make a backup just in case).

2) Ensure that there is no product installed on the computer whose purpose is to hide or lock folders.

3) Create a new user account and check if the issue recurs in it. If it does not occur, it could indicate that your user account is corrupted. Access this link and follow the steps to copy all files from the corrupt user profile to the new one : Fix a corrupted user profile, and in your case ensure also that it is an administrator account.

Answer 2

Right-click any blank area of taskbar. Look for "Show application icons". If it has no checkmark, select it to add the check. God only knows why this option exists.

Answer 3

Try the following

1. Save your work & files & close all windows.
2. Use Win + X shortcut to find Command Prompt (Admin) & run REG DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband /F to remove all pinned items.
3. Next, run taskkill /f /im explorer.exe in command prompt with admin privileges to kill Windows Explorer.
4. Click Win + R & run explorer.exe or use command prompt with or without admin privileges to restart explorer (you may also use Windows Task Manager to do this by clicking on File > Run new task > explorer.exe to restart Windows Explorer. Note: system restart not required)
5. Go to "%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\" & delete all shortcuts & files -- this should restore your taskbar to default state.
6. Try pinning your apps now -- should work for the windows taskbar atleast.