You're somewhat confusing.
- A link, usually, is some text (most often blue) in a web page or email or document you can click on.
- A bookmark (or favorite, as IE calls it - bookmark is a Firefox term) is an 'internet shortcut' (a .url file) as presented in the favorites menu of IE. And you can't open a favorite shown by IE from Firefox, because a click on it by definition is handled by IE.
- The favorites menu in IE and the bookmarks menu in Firefox only show a description. The location is hidden in its properties.
- A desktop shortcut (often called 'icon') is an 'internet shortcut' (a .url file) as shown on the desktop.
So it's not clear at all what has been changed into what.
Kees
Somehow I tried to open a bookmark from internet explorer using fire fox. When this happened all the bookmarks in internet explorer were changed to .url files, which I can't see or edit the link of any more when I right click on them.
All the .url files are now just the name of the bookmark, and it doesn't show the link location. is there a way to change the files back from a .url file.

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic