Windows XP A to Z - http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/windowsxp
Remove shortcut arrow from desktop icons
http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/windowsxp/articles/42/1/Remove-shortcut-arrow-from-desktop-icons
Super Admin
 
By Super Admin
Published on 02/23/2005
 
How you can remove those shortcut arrows from your desktop icons in Windows (any versions)?
Remove shortcut arrow from desktop icons

1. Start regedit.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
3. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.
4. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile
5. Delete the IsShortcut registry value.

You may need to restart Windows.

Credit goes to some guy who wrote it on a website I can't remember...

Note: Please note that in some cases deactivating the arrow for *.LNK files might lead to duplicate items in the Explorer Context menu.