Shortcuts not showing up on desktop!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)

Right click on the desktop and select 'Arrange Icons By'.. is the 'Show
Desktop Icons' checked?
 
Squire

The clue is in this part..

"Well, we right clicked created the shortcut, either sent it to the desktop
or were going to drag it there. NO<they couldn't be found there, where did
they go and what is happening?"
 
Hi, I went over to a lady's house yesterday and we tried to make some
shortcuts to the programs she uses the most and the file folders she
needs access to at all times. Well, we right clicked created the
shortcut, either sent it to the desktop or were going to drag it there.
NO<they couldn't be found there, where did they go and what is
happening? She has XP, or I wouldn't be here, so am hoping you can help
us. I have Windows 98SE and after fiddling with her computer the past
months find it extremely user unfriendly compared to the old standby
proggie I have..esp. what comes up under the start folder on the
taskbar....what is that all about, Dell, seems to have tried to take
over her computer. Well, enough asking, thanks for listening, and
assisting me with these Shortcut and Startup problems, Psongman
 
There are two different ways to create a shortcut.

1. Using windows explorer, right clicking the program, selecting Send to -
Desktop (create shortcut).

2. Right clicking the desktop and select - New - Shortcut, typing in the
address to the program, and typing in the name of the program.

What seems to be the problem?
 
Squire said:
There are two different ways to create a shortcut.
Click to expand...


Three--at least.

1. Using windows explorer, right clicking the program, selecting Send
to - Desktop (create shortcut).

2. Right clicking the desktop and select - New - Shortcut, typing in
the address to the program, and typing in the name of the program.
Click to expand...


3. Right-drag the program to the desktop. When you release the right mouse
button, choose "Create shortcut here" from the menu.
 
Hi, I went over to a lady's house yesterday and we tried to make some
shortcuts to the programs she uses the most and the file folders she
needs access to at all times. Well, we right clicked created the
shortcut, either sent it to the desktop or were going to drag it there.
NO<they couldn't be found there, where did they go and what is
happening? She has XP, or I wouldn't be here, so am hoping you can help
us. I have Windows 98SE and after fiddling with her computer the past
months find it extremely user unfriendly compared to the old standby
proggie I have..esp. what comes up under the start folder on the
taskbar....what is that all about, Dell, seems to have tried to take
over her computer. Well, enough asking, thanks for listening, and
assisting me with these Shortcut and Startup problems, Psongman
Click to expand...

Did you select "Create Shortcut" on the right click menu? If yes, the
shortcut is in the program's folder. You need to use "Send To> Desktop [as
a shortcut], for it to end up there.

Personally, I like the method that Ken posted about - right click drag;
after dropping the object, select Create Shortcut.
 
Hi, thanks for all the info but I have to tell you that we did all
those things you mentioned. I know how to make shortcuts and how to
send them to the desktop. What I am asking is, we did those things, but
they weren't on the desktop. I hope this makes the WHAT HAPPENED?
clearer. Please keep assisting, I knwo we can clear up this shortcut
disappearing problem, Psongman
 
Psongman,

You said you did all those things, but it sounds from the context that you
may have missed Mike Hal's post:

"Right click on the desktop and select 'Arrange Icons By'.. is the 'Show
Desktop Icons' checked?"

Mike
 
psongman said:
Hi, thanks for all the info but I have to tell you that we did all
those things you mentioned. I know how to make shortcuts and how to
send them to the desktop. What I am asking is, we did those things, but
they weren't on the desktop. I hope this makes the WHAT HAPPENED?
clearer. Please keep assisting, I knwo we can clear up this shortcut
disappearing problem, Psongman
Click to expand...

I had a problem similar to this when I created a new profile and copied
the old one to it. Every time I created a shortcut it went to the old
profile desktop by default. Do a search for *.lnk, there will probably
be quite a few, and see if you can locate the shortcut.

gls858
 
Hi, thanks for all the info but I have to tell you that we did all
those things you mentioned. I know how to make shortcuts and how to
send them to the desktop. What I am asking is, we did those things, but
they weren't on the desktop. I hope this makes the WHAT HAPPENED?
clearer. Please keep assisting, I knwo we can clear up this shortcut
disappearing problem, Psongman
Click to expand...

If they were created successfully, searching for them should turn up where
they went to. Be sure to use Folder Options to show hidden files and folder
and to show system files and folders. Search by name or by extension *.LNK

One reason I can think of that the icons would not appear - logging on with
Guest account or using a temporary account provided by Windows when the
regular account cannot be loaded (usually due to corrupt registry hive for
that profile). Check that she is logged onto her account by using Start>
Run> %userprofile% to confirm the location of her account's folders.

Also, XP search is.... well, not very good. May want to use a better find
tool such as Agent Ransack (free) from www.mythicsoft.com
 
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