Solved how to delete shortcuts from desktop

hello, i don't normally need help with simple things like this but this has got me. In previous versions of Windows, i'd delete a shortcut off the desktop and it'd inform me that i was only deleting the shortcut and not the actual program. When i try on Windows 7 though, it informs me, i'll need admin rights to delete this file, and then gives me the directory /program file/ect. This seems to me that it's going to delete the actual file instead of the shortcut. Am i understanding correctly, and if so, how do i just remove the shortcut?

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

I've just double-checked my desktop as the scenario you describe seems a bit strange. If you delete a shortcut you are not removing the program or application, but just the shortcut to it, so I think you're absolutely right to query this behaviour.

I'd be inclined to run a full anti-virus check in Safe Mode to see if anything shows up. Malwarebytes is always a good choice for this.

Welcome to Seven Forums knightron. What version of Windows Seven do you have? Are you indeed an administrator? Some actions can be set to require admin rights. A Guy

Hi Knightron, welcome to the Seven Forums.

This might not be your scenario but worth to check:

Some simple register hacks allow users to remove the shortcut symbol, the small blue arrow (default) at the lower left corner of icon. There are also several tweaking tools that can remove the arrow. Maybe you have removed the shortcut arrows?

When done, when shortcut arrow is removed, it's more difficult to see which icon is a shortcut and which is a program or application. It can cause some confusion, user thinks he/she is deleting a shortcut when instead deleting an application. This is why I personally do not remove shortcut arrows, nor do I recommend it.

Here's what I mean. On top an application icon, under it a shortcut icon to the same application, with distinctive shortcut arrow:



To see the difference when shortcut arrow is removed, you need to check the properties of an icon. Properties of a shortcut have an extra "Shortcut" tab and the type of file is Shortcut:



Also, check the text in delete dialog, to see if Windows asks do you want to delete "this file" or "this shortcut":



If and when you delete a shortcut, only that shortcut is deleted. The application it's pointing remains.

Kari

Hi knightron, here's a little pre-advice, because it looks like you're going to do some some trial and error activities to locate your solution. So, before you start, set a Restore Point, so that if you should inadvertently get yourself into some trouble, you can always go back to square one!

thanks guys, yes i'd done a scan, 3 infact with seperate scanners and nothing, the night before posting that message. And yes i'm the admin but i don't use the admin account. Anyways just letting you guys know what's up. I don't know why it displays the files location when i select delete but i typed in the password and tested a delete anyways and it only deleted the shortcut and not the actual file, so all's good. Thanks guys.

OK, thanks for letting us know.

Glad you have it sorted. A Guy