What are shared.lnk Error Messages?

General shared.lnk Runtime Errors

shared.lnk file errors often occur during the startup phase of VMWare Workstation Player, but can also occur while the program is running. These types LNK errors are also known as “runtime errors” because they occur while VMWare Workstation Player is running. Here are some of the most common shared.lnk runtime errors:

• shared.lnk could not be found.
• shared.lnk error.
• shared.lnk failed to load.
• Error loading shared.lnk.
• Failed to register shared.lnk / Cannot register shared.lnk.
• Runtime Error - shared.lnk.
• The file shared.lnk is missing or corrupt.

Most LNK errors are due to missing or corrupt files. Your shared.lnk file could be missing due to accidental deletion, uninstalled as a shared file of another program (shared with VMWare Workstation Player), or deleted by a malware infection. Furthermore, shared.lnk file corruption could be caused from a power outage when loading VMWare Workstation Player, system crash while loading or saving shared.lnk, bad sectors on your storage media (usually your primary hard drive), or malware infection. Thus, it’s critical to make sure your anti-virus is kept up-to-date and scanning regularly.

How to Fix shared.lnk Errors in 3 Steps (Time to complete: ~5-15 minutes)

If you're encountering one of the error messages above, follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve your shared.lnk issue. These troubleshooting steps are listed in the recommended order of execution.

To begin System Restore (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. When you see the search box, type "System Restore" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click System Restore.
4. Please enter the administrator password (if applicable / prompted).
5. Follow the steps in the System Restore Wizard to choose a relevant restore point.
6. Restore your computer to that backup image.

If the Step 1 fails to resolve the shared.lnk error, please proceed to the Step 2 below.

You can uninstall VMWare Workstation Player software by following these instructions (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10):

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Uninstall" and press "ENTER".
3. In the search results, find and click "Add or Remove Programs"
4. Find the entry for VMWare Workstation Player 15.5.1 and click "Uninstall"
5. Follow the prompts for uninstallation.

After the software has been fully uninstalled, restart your PC and reinstall VMWare Workstation Player software.

If this Step 2 fails as well, please proceed to the Step 3 below.

VMWare Workstation Player 15.5.1

VMware

When the first two steps haven't solved your issue, it might be a good idea to run Windows Update. Many shared.lnk error messages that are encountered can be contributed to an outdated Windows Operating System. To run Windows Update, please follow these easy steps:

1. Hit the Windows Start button
2. In the search box, type "Update" and press "ENTER".
3. In the Windows Update dialog box, click "Check for Updates" (or similar button depending on your Windows version)
4. If updates are available for download, click "Install Updates".
5. After the update is completed, restart your PC.

If Windows Update failed to resolve the shared.lnk error message, please proceed to next step. Please note that this final step is recommended for advanced PC users only.

If Those Steps Fail: Download and Replace Your shared.lnk File (Caution: Advanced)

If none of the previous three troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, you can try a more aggressive approach (Note: Not recommended for amateur PC users) by downloading and replacing your appropriate shared.lnk file version. We maintain a comprehensive database of 100% malware-free shared.lnk files for every applicable version of VMWare Workstation Player. Please follow the steps below to download and properly replace you file:

1. Locate your Windows operating system version in the list of below "Download shared.lnk Files".
2. Click the appropriate "Download Now" button and download your Windows file version.
3. Copy this file to the appropriate VMWare Workstation Player folder location:
   
   Windows 10: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\Resources\
   Windows 10: C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\Resources\
   
4. Restart your computer.

If this final step has failed and you're still encountering the error, you're only remaining option is to do a clean installation of Windows 10.

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