Discussion:
Favorites List Disappeared
(too old to reply)
GusGus
2008-01-06 22:24:01 UTC
Permalink
Recently, I bought a Laptop from Dell with Vista OS and things were working
well including IE 7. Then in IE 7, “Favorites” can’t find the Favorites
folder in Windows Explorer. I can add a web site in IE Favorites, but it
doesn’t show in the drop down list. In fact, there is no drop down list!
However it is in the Favorites file in Windows Explorer. Can anyone inform me
on how to get the Favorites list back?
GusGus
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
2008-01-06 23:28:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by GusGus
Recently, I bought a Laptop from Dell with Vista OS and things were working
well including IE 7. Then in IE 7, “Favorites” can’t find the Favorites
folder in Windows Explorer. I can add a web site in IE Favorites, but it
doesn’t show in the drop down list. In fact, there is no drop down list!
However it is in the Favorites file in Windows Explorer. Can anyone inform me
on how to get the Favorites list back?
Is it at C:\Users\<username>\Favorites ?
--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not reply with email
Robert Aldwinckle
2008-01-07 08:36:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by GusGus
Recently, I bought a Laptop from Dell with Vista OS and things were working
well including IE 7. Then in IE 7, “Favorites” can’t find the Favorites
folder in Windows Explorer. I can add a web site in IE Favorites, but it
doesn’t show in the drop down list. In fact, there is no drop down list!
Just to be clear about your symptom and assuming an English version
of IE, what do you see exactly if you press Alt+a ? Just the menu label?
Or at least the Favorites commands? What happens if you press Ctrl+d?
(Add to Favorites) Can you create a new folder? If so, use a unique
name and find out where it is, using an Explorer search if necessary.

What about the Favorites bar? E.g. press Ctrl+i what do you see then?
If you see the new folder you created you could use right-click Properties
to see its location and thus where your registry is pointing to as your Favorites
directory.
Post by GusGus
However it is in the Favorites file in Windows Explorer.
Do the same tests there. I suspect you will find that somehow
the WE window is looking at a different directory for Favorites...
Post by GusGus
Can anyone inform me on how to get the Favorites list back?
First find out why it isn't showing up... ; )
Post by GusGus
GusGus
HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
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GusGus
2008-01-07 18:13:03 UTC
Permalink
Hi Robert
Thank you for trying to help!
I have the English V. IE 7. Alt+a highlights the Favorites Menu and a box
below it with lines: Add to Favorites, Add Tab Group to Favorites (Greyed
Out), Organize Favorites…, Mobile Favorites (Empty). Normally, below that
there should be a list of Web sites I have added to my favorites, but there
isn’t. Pressing Ctrl+I opens the Favorites (with the star) List box with the
Mobile Favorites folder, but none of the other of my Favorites folders. I
believe IE can’t find the location of the bookmark.htm file which is in
C:\Users\my name\documents\bookmark.htm. I created a folder in IE Favorites
and found it in Windows Explorer in C:\Users\my name\Downloads. What do I do
from here? How do tell IE where it is?
GusGus
Post by Robert Aldwinckle
Post by GusGus
Recently, I bought a Laptop from Dell with Vista OS and things were working
well including IE 7. Then in IE 7, “Favorites” can’t find the Favorites
folder in Windows Explorer. I can add a web site in IE Favorites, but it
doesn’t show in the drop down list. In fact, there is no drop down list!
Just to be clear about your symptom and assuming an English version
of IE, what do you see exactly if you press Alt+a ? Just the menu label?
Or at least the Favorites commands? What happens if you press Ctrl+d?
(Add to Favorites) Can you create a new folder? If so, use a unique
name and find out where it is, using an Explorer search if necessary.
What about the Favorites bar? E.g. press Ctrl+i what do you see then?
If you see the new folder you created you could use right-click Properties
to see its location and thus where your registry is pointing to as your Favorites
directory.
Post by GusGus
However it is in the Favorites file in Windows Explorer.
Do the same tests there. I suspect you will find that somehow
the WE window is looking at a different directory for Favorites...
Post by GusGus
Can anyone inform me on how to get the Favorites list back?
First find out why it isn't showing up... ; )
Post by GusGus
GusGus
HTH
Robert Aldwinckle
---
Robert Aldwinckle
2008-01-07 23:19:13 UTC
Permalink
(cross-post added to Vista General)
Post by GusGus
Hi Robert
Thank you for trying to help!
I have the English V. IE 7. Alt+a highlights the Favorites Menu and a box
below it with lines: Add to Favorites, Add Tab Group to Favorites (Greyed
Out), Organize Favorites
, Mobile Favorites (Empty).
Great. That is actually showing more than I expected. ; )
So it makes me think that you have a Favorites directory which is just empty.
Post by GusGus
Normally, below that
there should be a list of Web sites I have added to my favorites, but there
isn’t.
Yes. In particular I would normally expect to see an automatically created
subdirectory called Links.
Post by GusGus
Pressing Ctrl+I opens the Favorites (with the star) List box with the
Mobile Favorites folder, but none of the other of my Favorites folders.
Oh? Mobile Favorites is a folder? So it would be similar to Links
and therefore you should be able to do the right-click Properties check
for path (aka Location) on it.
Post by GusGus
I
believe IE can’t find the location of the bookmark.htm file which is in
C:\Users\my name\documents\bookmark.htm.
bookmark.htm sounds like an exported collection of links?
If you wanted IE to use them you would need to Import that into your Favorites directory. E.g. using File, Import...
Post by GusGus
I created a folder in IE Favorites and found it in Windows Explorer in
C:\Users\my name\Downloads.
What do I do from here? How do tell IE where it is?
Good question. You're using Vista. I'm not. ; }
FWIW I would have expected you to find it in
%USERPROFILE%\Favorites

Is that Mobile Favorites in the same directory?


Cross-posting to Vista General for better exposure to Vista users...


BTW you didn't answer all my questions. Did you try the same tests
with a WE window? What were the results then?


Good luck

Robert
---
Post by GusGus
GusGus
Post by Robert Aldwinckle
Post by GusGus
Recently, I bought a Laptop from Dell with Vista OS and things were working
well including IE 7. Then in IE 7, “Favorites” can’t find the Favorites
folder in Windows Explorer. I can add a web site in IE Favorites, but it
doesn’t show in the drop down list. In fact, there is no drop down list!
Just to be clear about your symptom and assuming an English version
of IE, what do you see exactly if you press Alt+a ? Just the menu label?
Or at least the Favorites commands? What happens if you press Ctrl+d?
(Add to Favorites) Can you create a new folder? If so, use a unique
name and find out where it is, using an Explorer search if necessary.
What about the Favorites bar? E.g. press Ctrl+i what do you see then?
If you see the new folder you created you could use right-click Properties
to see its location and thus where your registry is pointing to as your Favorites
directory.
Post by GusGus
However it is in the Favorites file in Windows Explorer.
Do the same tests there. I suspect you will find that somehow
the WE window is looking at a different directory for Favorites...
Post by GusGus
Can anyone inform me on how to get the Favorites list back?
First find out why it isn't showing up... ; )
Post by GusGus
GusGus
HTH
Robert Aldwinckle
---
Chess
2008-02-25 14:58:01 UTC
Permalink
this may solve the problem, it did for me.
right click on start, click on explore, find all files and folders named
"favorites" may be 3 or 4, right click on each then click properties,click
location tab then restore at bottom then O.K. it may tell you it can not
complete, that is O.K. just X out after doing this for each occurance, close
W-E open IE, click on add to favorites icon then organize favorites. you may
have to close IE and reopen it for the favorites to appear hope this helps
Post by GusGus
Hi Robert
Thank you for trying to help!
I have the English V. IE 7. Alt+a highlights the Favorites Menu and a box
below it with lines: Add to Favorites, Add Tab Group to Favorites (Greyed
Out), Organize Favorites…, Mobile Favorites (Empty). Normally, below that
there should be a list of Web sites I have added to my favorites, but there
isn’t. Pressing Ctrl+I opens the Favorites (with the star) List box with the
Mobile Favorites folder, but none of the other of my Favorites folders. I
believe IE can’t find the location of the bookmark.htm file which is in
C:\Users\my name\documents\bookmark.htm. I created a folder in IE Favorites
and found it in Windows Explorer in C:\Users\my name\Downloads. What do I do
from here? How do tell IE where it is?
GusGus
Post by Robert Aldwinckle
Post by GusGus
Recently, I bought a Laptop from Dell with Vista OS and things were working
well including IE 7. Then in IE 7, “Favorites” can’t find the Favorites
folder in Windows Explorer. I can add a web site in IE Favorites, but it
doesn’t show in the drop down list. In fact, there is no drop down list!
Just to be clear about your symptom and assuming an English version
of IE, what do you see exactly if you press Alt+a ? Just the menu label?
Or at least the Favorites commands? What happens if you press Ctrl+d?
(Add to Favorites) Can you create a new folder? If so, use a unique
name and find out where it is, using an Explorer search if necessary.
What about the Favorites bar? E.g. press Ctrl+i what do you see then?
If you see the new folder you created you could use right-click Properties
to see its location and thus where your registry is pointing to as your Favorites
directory.
Post by GusGus
However it is in the Favorites file in Windows Explorer.
Do the same tests there. I suspect you will find that somehow
the WE window is looking at a different directory for Favorites...
Post by GusGus
Can anyone inform me on how to get the Favorites list back?
First find out why it isn't showing up... ; )
Post by GusGus
GusGus
HTH
Robert Aldwinckle
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