The whole thing is caused by a microsoft security update, latest one march 2002, that'll teach me to try and stay safe, found the files as stated earlier the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ lnkfile . . I thought was ink, with a capital I where in fact it is Lnk with a lower case l (for lima).. .Deletes said reg entries and now no more arrows, wonderful. Thanks chaps(ess) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 16 March 2002, 18:13: Message edited by: spannersatcx ]</small>