Removing the shortcut icon arrow overlay
There are a couple of ways to remove the shortcut arrow, many which require numerous steps and registry merging. Frameworkx has eliminated all those steps with just one program - FxVisor 1.3.
Windows Vista Instructions:
FxVisor 1.3. is a shortcut overlay remover that allows you to remove those ridiculously large shortcut arrows you see when you create shortcuts in Windows Vista. Unfortunately, this program only works with Windows Vista.
When you open the program, this is what it looks like. There are three types of arrows to choose from: Regular Arrow, Light arrow, or No arrow. The program is pretty straight-forward.
After choosing Apply, the program tells you that you should reboot or re-login for the changes to take place. However, when you click Ok, your computer will automatically logout so make sure you save all your Internet tabs and whatever you might have open.
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Windows XP:
Due to popular demand, I have decided to include a section for XP users as well.
Although XP users cannot use FxVisor, they can use a program made by Micosoft called TweakUI. In order to run Tweak UI, you must have Windows XP SP1 or higher, or Windows Server 2003. You can get the program here.
Once you install TweakUI, it’s very easy to use. Unlike FxVisor, TweakUI allows you to tweak many of the system settings on an easy-to-use interface. But we’re just going to focus on removing the shortcut overlay arrow.
To do so, click on Explorer > Shortcut
Then click on None.
Your desktop should flicker and the shortcut arrows will disappear. Also note that any changes you have made in icon positioning on the desktop will be reseted.
Still need help? Check out our new forums where you can get an even faster and better response!
March 4th, 2007 at 7:10 am
Nice site you have here, can’t wait till my Vista upgrade arrives so I can put this info to use. In the mean time Windows XP users can use the Tweak UI program.
March 5th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Hi Kevin, since you are waiting for your Windows Vista, why don’t you check out the article “How to Create Icons Without Text”. This tutorial works for Windows XP and can prove to look really nice. Thanks for visiting this site.
-Jerry
March 31st, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Awesome, thanks! It’s surprising that Microsoft still hasn’t included an option to turn these overlays off. Why they would do the complete opposite and make them even larger in Vista than in previous Windows versions is beyond me.
April 10th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Your small program is very nice and you have obviously put a lot of work in to it however, for me there was an easier way. I just did this… like I said, it worked for me.. and it completely removes the large arrow without the need to replace ‘overlays’.
BACK UP YOUR REGISTRY
1. Open Regedit (click Start type regedit into search box & double click regedit.exe)
2. Navigate to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT -> lnkfile (LNKFILE)
3. Delete the following key “IsShorcut”
4. Close REGEDIT and Restart your computer.
NOTE.. After making this change it is necessary for you to RESTART your machine before the new settings will take effect.
For the reader: IF you dont want to play in your registry then by all means, download FxVisor
either way, have fun
Elenore
April 10th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Elenore: I had known of a similar registry tweak, however it involved replacing the shortcut with a blank.ico
I thought it would be best to just download the program, since messing with the registry can always be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. But your tweak seems the most convenient out of all the registry tweaks I’ve seen. Thanks for the headup.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:27 am
[...] wait… that shortcut arrow sure ruins the effect. Click here to find out how you can remove that as [...]
April 11th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Hi,
I used TweakUI for my system. I did what you said but when I clicked apply, the arrows left, but the icons went all fuzzy and looked strange. I don’t know if I changed something by accident by clicking apply, but I would appreciate any help on this issue. Please note I restarted my computer, and everything is still weird.
-Thanks, Tristan
April 11th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Actually, after you do the registry hack, lnkfile and pifile, you only have to go to
properties->appearance->advanced->item: and change the icon size from default to one above or one below
i.e. if it is set to 32 change it to 33 or 31 and then click OK it will reset the desktop for you without you having to reboot.
if you change it back to default 32 it will once again reset the desktop.
Your icons will readjust all over your desktop, so make a screen shot if you want them back in the ‘normal’ order so you can reposition them later.
May 20th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
I am trying to remove the shortcut overlay on an XP machine, but I get a window saying that the enrty point can not be found. I have used this on 3 other machines with no problems. Is there another entry point, or another way to achieve this?
Thanks,
Joe
May 22nd, 2007 at 3:00 am
[...] How to change or remove the shortcut arrow without problems Go to this link for detail on how: http://vistarewired.com/2007/03/03/removing-shortcut/ [...]
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:17 pm
how do you access fx visor after you install it??? theres no shortcut on the desktop??
July 11th, 2007 at 10:36 am
i like this program
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:38 pm
After I installed the fxvisor the game explorer stopped working, it would give an error when trying to laung a game sayinh that the file was not associated, create a file association etc etc.
A shortcut to a game would work fine but once draged into the Games Explorer, would stop working.
Restrored the overlay, and the problem was solved. I was using version 1, anyone else with this porblem?
November 8th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I tried Elenore’s registry tweak and it worked great until I tried accessing the games from the Start menu. A conflict arose preventing me from playing any games (my wife was very pleased!). Like a complete idiot I didn’t backup the registry before playing with it!
I need to restore the deleted key, could you let me have the relevant numbers etc. please?
Thanks
November 21st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Thanks, this program helped me alot.
January 29th, 2008 at 4:41 am
Wow! Great work! I loved what you put up there! Thanks! I always wanted the icon arrow to dissapear, YAHOO! My wish came true!
March 12th, 2008 at 1:36 am
[...] Removing the shortcut icon arrow overlay [...]
March 13th, 2008 at 12:40 am
What if I want to change the standard overlay arrow to a different arrow. I have a really cool looking transparent arrow that really does look nice. It’s in a dll file and when you select it to “change icon” under properties, it shows the overlay arrow. Unfortunately, when you select it, it replaces the entire icon instead of just overlaying the new arrow. You end up with an icon of just the arrow??? Any ideas? Please copy your response to my email.
Thanks
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
This program does not work on Vista 64.
January 1st, 2009 at 8:38 pm
You don’t have to log out or reboot for the changes to take effect. Just kill the process explorer.exe (with the task manager) and then restart it.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
As previously said, this does not work with 64 bit. I have tried every version of this program that I could find — they all pop up with an error message after trying to remove the arrows and reboot.
March 14th, 2009 at 7:46 am
It’s the first time I commented here and I should say that you give us genuine, and quality information for other bloggers! Good job.
p.s. You have a very good template for your blog. Where did you find it?