Convert Shortcut Files to Original / Normal Files in Windows 10, 8, 7

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Written By Ashwani Tiwari
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Published On July 19th, 2022
Reading Time 6 Minutes Reading

In today’s era, computers are the basic need of users in personal or professional use. Generally, people use the desktop in their daily routine or at their work. Thus, they may have some important files or folders stored on their hard drive. But sometimes when they open the system, they find that some of the files and folders become a shortcut. This is a simple issue that is generally occurring by the virus which converts the name of the folder or file to shortcut.

In this situation, firstly, the users need to try to remove the shortcut virus with the help of antivirus. But, if they are still unable to see that file and folder, then they need an appropriate solution to convert shortcut file into original file in Windows 10, 8, 7 OS. Hence, they find the solution to resolve the occurrence of shortcut file issue.

Furthermore, to resolve the problem, we are going to discuss several methods. Just have a look at all the solutions to convert shortcut files to normal files that are listed in this blog.

Some User’s Query Related to Shortcut File Issue

Have a look below the following scenarios that are taken from the forum site. It will help you to understand the need to convert shortcut files into original file.

Query 1: “I use Windows 10 OS and unfortunately, in my hard drive there is an issue occurs. It started to create shortcut files and I am unable to open my file and folders. Those files are very important for me and I still believe those filers are there. I just want to know how to recover shortcut files in hard drive without any data loss.”

Query 2: “I usually store my data in the pen drive because this is a portable device which is easy to handle. But, yesterday night I inserted my pen drive into my laptop and tried to open the file. Surprisingly, all of my files are turned into the shortcut file format. Thus, I need an ultimate solution to convert shortcut file into original file in pen drive without damaging my data quality.”

Reasons Behind Creating a Shortcut File

There are so many reasons behind generating the shortcut file into your hard drive or in the pen drive. Here, some of them are listed below:

  • Unfortunate power failure
  • File system not supported
  • Inappropriate transfer
  • Operating system error
  • Due to viruses & worms
  • Systems driver failure

Manual Ways to Convert Shortcut File into Original File in Window 10, 8, 7

If you faced a shortcut file issues which affected your data files. Then, you need to convert shortcut files into original file. Here you want a reliable solution to resolve the issue. Then just follow some simple steps that are given below:

Method 1:- Clear Virus & Worms Using Anti-Virus

This is one of the best techniques to remove shortcut virus and worms from Computer, Pen drive, hard drive, and external hard drive. Follow the given steps to recover shortcut files in the desktop:

  1. First, browse and install any trustworthy Antivirus into your local machine.
  2. Now, the antivirus starts the scanning process to scan the complete desktop.
  3. After that, the Antivirus will show a list of malware, you have to simply remove them.
  4. Finally, the shortcut file will completely remove from your local machine.

Note:- If possible then you should have to select only trusted antivirus to recover shortcut files in an external hard drive or in pen drive. Because sometimes it ends up with distorted pictures or file formats.

Method 2:- Format the Disk to Clean up the Virus from Windows Computer

Cleaning the hard disk or any other storage device is not a big problem; you can simply format the device. But, when you are doing this, one thing you need to be keeping in mind “ALL THE DATA WILL BE REMOVED PERMANENTLY”. So, before starting the process of formatting the hard disk, pen drive, external hard disk. You should keep a backup of all the data to open shortcut files in Windows. To format the device, perform the following steps:

  1. First of all, spot the drive in My Computer.
  2. Now, choose the drive then right-click on it. recover file
  3. Select “Format” option from the Opened list.
  4. Here a warning message will appear on your screen that “ALL DATA WILL BE DELETED PERMANENTLY”. Just click on OK button.recovery

Note:- When you choose to format your device. Then, first take backup of the file or folders after that you can format the complete drive.

Method 3:- Preview Hidden Files that Start Creating Shortcut

To recover the shortcut files in Windows 10, you need to preview the hidden files that start creating the shortcuts. For this, follow the steps listed here:

  1. First of all, open your flash USB drive.
  2. Then, select the folder option.
  3. Here an option appears which is “Hidden Files and Folders”. Hit on the ‘Show Hidden Files and Folders’.
  4. At last, remove or choose the ‘Hide protected operating system file’.

Professional Way to Convert Shortcut File into Original File in Window 10, 8, 7

In the above section, we have discussed the manual steps to open shortcut files in Windows 10 and below versions. But, if you are looking for an ultimate solution for this error, then there is an automated way to recover shortcut files in the desktop. This third-party software is named as SysTools Hard Drive Data Recovery Tool.

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With the help of this application the user can easily recover shortcut files from the external hard drive, internal hard drive, pen drive etc. There are various unique features of this tool that are listed below:

  • Recover shortcut files from computer
  • Retrieve permanently deleted data
  • Recover the data after formatting the drive
  • Recover shortcut file from External/Internal drive

Final Words

Best methods to convert shortcut files into original file in Windows 10, 8, 7 and below versions. When users face files and folders become shortcut issues in their Desktop, Pendrive, external hard drive, etc. Then they need to find the ultimate solution to resolve the problem. In the above section, we have also discussed the various ways to files turned to shortcut error. But, in the manual approach, there are some drawbacks like it may permanently delete the user’s data. Hence, users can opt a third party application to recover shortcut files in the external hard drive.

FAQ

How Do I Convert Shortcuts to Original Files?

Read the above blog and know how do you convert shortcuts to original files.

Can I Recover Virus Infected Data From Hard Drive?

Yes, you can recover virus infected data from hard drive after reading the above-mentioned blog.

Is it possible to recover lost data from hard drive

Yes it is possible to recover lost data from hard drive by using SysTools hard drive recovery software.

Is This Software Able to Recover Data From GPT and MBR Partition?

Yes, this software is capable enough to recover data From GPT and MBR Partition

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By Ashwani Tiwari

Being a Chief Technical Analyst, I am aware of the technicalities faced by the user while working with multiple technologies. So, through my blogs and articles, I love to help all the users who face various challenges while dealing with technology.