Favorites Entries Lost During Internet Explorer Installation

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

If the Favorites folder seems to be empty, make sure that the folder still exists in the Windows folder. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type favorites, and then click Find Now.
3. Double-click the Favorites folder, and then verify that it contains your favorites.
4. If the folder exists and still contains your favorite locations, use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) to correct the Favorites entry under the following registry keys. Change the Favorites entries to point to the correct location of the Windows\Favorites folder.

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Shell folders
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell folders
   
   HKEY_USERS\.default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Shell folders
   
   HKEY_USERS\.default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell folders

5. If the Favorites folder does not exist in the Windows folder, create a new Favorites folder in the Windows folder. You must then re-create your favorite items manually. To create a new Favorites folder, start Windows Explorer, double-click the Windows folder, right-click in the right pane, point to New, and then click Folder. Type Favorites, and then press ENTER. After you create the new Favorites folder, verify that the registry entries listed above contain the correct path to the Favorites folder.