How To Disable the NTFS File System Tracking of Broken Shortcut Links

If you disable a shortcut, the NTFS File System in Windows XP and Windows 2000 automatically attempts to locate the shortcut destination by searching all paths that are associated with the shortcut. This step-by-step article describes how to prevent this behavior from occurring.

Disable the Tracking of Broken Shortcuts

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.

To prevent the NTFS file system from tracking alternate paths for a broken shortcut link, make the following changes in the registry:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. Navigate to the following key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
3. On the Edit menu, click New, and then click DWORD value.
4. Type NoResolveTrack for the Value name, and then press ENTER.
5. Double-click the new value, and then set it to 1.
6. Click OK.
7. Quit Registry Editor.

You can also prevent this behavior at a Group Policy level by selecting the Do not use the tracking-based method when resolving shell shortcuts check box in the following location: