LNK - Bug 95/NT
My Name is Christian Ehrl and I am studying Math at the "Fachhochschule Darmstadt" (FHD) in Germany.
On March, 7th, 1998 I dicovered a strange Bug in Win95 and NT4, causing System-Folders to be renamed, when a single Entry in the Registry is changed and after that a Shortcut is created using the New -> Shortcut function of the Context-Menu that pops up, when right-clicking on the Desktop or in an Explorer Window.
Normally a Shortcuts to a File is created, running the following Command:
Rundll32.exe AppWiz.Cpl,NewLinkHere %1
This Command can be found as Entry in the System Registry of either Win95 and NT4.
This Entry can of course be changed by the User or by choosing "Install" in the Popup-Menu of a right-clicked INF-File:
[Version]
Signature=$Chicago$
[DefaultInstall]
AddReg = Danger.Add.Reg
[Danger.Add.Reg]
HKCR,".lnk\ShellNew","Command",0,"rundll32.exe AppWiz.Cpl,NewLinkHere %22%"
If the INF-File has the above Content, the Entry in the Registry will show:
%22% is an internal Variable used by Win95 and its Value is the Path to the VMM32-Folder.
Here is a List of internal Variables known to me.
The next Time you want to create a Shortcut to a File using the New -> Shortcut function, the VMM32-Folder will be renamed!!! because of a Failure in Appwiz.cpl.
The only Error Message that pops up is that the Shortcut could not be created.
You can imagine that Win95 will not start the next Time you restart your Computer.
I don't know exactly which NT-Folders are affected by this Bug. I have tested this only with the FONTS and PROGRAM FILES Folder with "Success", they were renamed.
I guess this is one of the most fatal Errors in Microsofts Operating Systems Win95 and NT4.
If you have any further Questions or want to write me your Comments, please send your e-mail to:
chrismp3@earthling.net.