Windows 7: Keyboard shortcuts don't work

I created a keyboard shortcut for my calculator, Control+Alt+C. It only works if the shortcut is also on the desktop. As soon as I delete the desktop shortcut, the keyboard shortcut stops working. I've tried creating other shortcuts and have the same problem. Thanks for any help.

You have answered your own question:
No shortcut file - no shortcut combination assigned to that file.

Alternatively, you can use AutoHotkey to create custom key shortcuts and even key remapping.

If you modify the shortcut in the Start Menu (Start > Programs > Accessories > Calculator) with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+C, then it will be active as long as the Start Menu is loaded. Or, do as you did before, but move (drag) the shortcut from your desktop to your preferred location within the Start Menu, or the Quick Launch toolbar on the Taskbar. The way Microsoft designed the interface for Windows 7, you can launch the calculator and while its taskbar button is displayed on the taskbar, right-click the button and select Pin to Taskbar. A third method is to navigate to the shortcut in the Accesories menu and right-click it, then select Pin to Start Menu, or Pin to Taskbar. The latter two methods keep the launch button on the Taskbar or Start Menu even when the application is closed. You can assign it a shortcut key before or after you pin it to either location.

Hope this helps.

Neutron, I used to be able to use a keyboard shortcut without the desktop shortcut on an older computer running Windows XP, but perhaps I had created the shortcut from the start menu, the way PCAce (above) suggested. I don't remember. Anyway, thanks for the link; I'll check it out.

PCAce, thanks for your suggestions; I was able to create the shortcut from the Start menu so all is well.


Thanks so much.