Hey simmers,

My MSFS Addons Linker doesn't start anymore from its current and for-ever location (d:\MSFS Tools\MSFS_Addons_Linker).

• The shortcut doesn't work. Nothing happened. As well as launching/opening directly the .exe
• If I launch it from a different location/folder... it works!
• If I launch it via a batch/command line... it works!
• Same behaviour for the 2024 and 2024 exe (0.29.9303.23827)

While it's a minor annoyance and not a major issue, I'm curious about the cause. Given that my Windows 11 system is frequently updated, many factors could be involved.

Thanks for your help!

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by vbazillio

Scraping barrel but has windows defender flagged the original location as 'dodgy' so won't run it? Try setting an exclusion for the exe and/or location in w11 security. I had the same happen to me with other small apps after an update. 

The Windows 11 Defender was the first I looked for. Hoping for an exclusion or something. Or a log message. Nothing.

I just add an folder Exclusion from Microsoft Defender Antivirus Scans. It didn't change anything ;( The shortcut doesn't work (even a new shortcut) but a MS-DOS/CMD prompt launching the .exe works 😉

Glad you got it to launch. FYI, my desktop shortcuts are working for both MSFS2024 & MSFS2020.

 

Actually, I'm still facing this little issue. The shortcut didn't  work (20 and 24) anymore. They work for years and for 2 days as it stopped working. It's annoying 🙂 Only the command line works. That's the point of this thread.

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by vbazillio

can you maybe check if there's a message in the windows event viewer log ? It's even more strange if it works in another folder, i would also think of it being blocked some 'security software' blocking it but looks like it's not that either.

Have you also checked that the process is not running in memory (so no AL.exe in the process list) after you launch it, or do you see it for a few second and then close ?

😱🙊

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by Bad_T

41 minutes ago, vbazillio said:

Actually, I'm still facing this little issue. The shortcut didn't  work (20 and 24) anymore. They work for years and for 2 days as it stopped working. It's annoying 🙂 Only the command line works. That's the point of this thread.

That would annoy me no end too! We need fix this for you :D

Can you take ownership of the folder and all contents? Only asking if you rebuilt machine recently or copied this from another machine and ntfs permissions may have carried across. 

DO you have other user accounts on machine? If so try one of them (or are you admin?)

Here are some advanced options, check it has not been blocked first.

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/unblock-file-downloaded-from-internet-in-windows-11.1125/

 

Hi,

Perhaps the author of that wonderful tool could help.

Regards

 

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by John Fields

5 hours ago, Bad_T said:

can you maybe check if there's a message in the windows event viewer log ? It's even more strange if it works in another folder, i would also think of it being blocked some 'security software' blocking it but looks like it's not that either.

Have you also checked that the process is not running in memory (so no AL.exe in the process list) after you launch it, or do you see it for a few second and then close ?

Thanks.

I get thru all the log from the Event Viewer (and launching via the shortcut MSFS Addons Linker) and nothing pops up. But I have to admit that the Event Viewer is not my best friend (for years) 😉

In the Task Manager, nothing happened as well, when I double click on the icon. When I launch the .exe via a command line I can see a MSFS_AddonsLinker.exe process appearing and running.

As usual, it's certainly a stupid simple thing with the shortcut... Will find it, will find!

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by vbazillio

1 hour ago, vbazillio said:

As usual, it's certainly a stupid simple thing with the shortcut... Will find it, will find!

There are funny things going on with shortcuts in MSFS... some of mine on the desktop do not show in File Explorer, and yet.. there they are..  Not sure what is going on either..

Edit:  There appear to be two desktops.. A "user" and a "public" desktop.. Don't know what the logic is..

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by Bert Pieke

It appears that .exe that I can't launched have the tag "block" in their properties (example for MSFS_AddonsLinker.exe for MSFS2020): Security "This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer" and I have to tick "unblock".

Next, let's find why this .exe (but others as well) have this "new" security feature 🙂

Edited August 4, 2025Aug 4 by vbazillio