How-to: Hide shortcut arrows

Windows adds a small rounded arrow to shortcuts, so they look different from normal files. For beginners a useful feature. Professionals can omit the arrow and disable it with the following trick.

• Open Registry Editor by pressing [Windows]+[R] and entering regedit.

• In the left view, navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/lnkfile.

• In the right view, right-click the entry IsShortcut, then Rename.

• Enter the new name AriochIsShortcut and confirm by clicking OK.

• Reboot your computer. From then on, Windows 7 (and Vista, too!) displays shortcuts without their arrows.