.LNK42 File Extension

Windows 93 Desktop Shortcut

Developer Jakenpopp and Zombectro
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What is an LNK42 file?

An LNK42 file is a "desktop" shortcut used by Windows 93, a joke operating system users can access on the Internet. It contains plain text that specifies what program the shortcut opens and, in some cases, where the shortcut's .JPG or .PNG icon is saved. LNK42 files can be opened in any text editor or imported into Windows 93.

More Information

Screenshot of a .lnk42 file in Windows 93
LNK42 file open in Windows 93

In 2014, French hackers Jankenpopp and Zombectro created Windows 93. The web-based "operating system," which can be found at Windows93.net, allows users to access a number of clever, comedic programs, including:

  • A "finished" version of Half-Life 3 that never progresses past the loading screen
  • A Minesweeper variant called BrianSweeper that the user can never win
  • An Internet Explorer variant called Cat Explorer that allows users to access 90s-themed webpages

When a user right-clicks a Windows 93 desktop shortcut and selects Download As..., the user's web browser downloads an LNK42 file. LNK42 files contain information Windows 93 uses to open an associated program. For example, the file Recorder.lnk42 contains information ("exe":"recorder") Windows 93 uses to open its Recorder program.

In some cases, LNK42 files also include the path at which a shortcut's icon can be found. Continuing the prior example, Recorder.lnk42 tells users its icon is located at /​c/​sys/​skins/​w93/​apps/​recorder.png in Windows 93.

How to open an LNK42 file

You can open an LNK42 file in any text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad (Windows) or Apple TextEdit (Mac), to view the plain text information it contains. You can also upload an LNK42 file to Windows 93 to use it as a desktop shortcut.

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Programs that open or reference LNK42 files

Windows
Included with OS
Mac
Included with OS
Linux
Free
Web
Chrome OS
Included with OS

Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the Windows 93 Desktop Shortcut file format and Mac, Windows, and Linux apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

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