Preventing Windows 7 From Putting Game Shortcuts In Game Folder

RyanFialcowitz · 10 Jul 2012

When I install a game in Windows 7 and Windows recognizes it it dumps the game's shortcut in the Game folder of the Start Menu. That wouldn't be a problem except Windows 7 prevents the game from creating the shortcuts it would have created had the operating system not been Windows 7- things like the game's Read Me, Uninstaller & Configuration options.

Is there some way I can prevent this behavior?

- Ryan Paul Fialcowitz

solarmystic · 11 Jul 2012

Hello and welcome to the forums Ryan,

That's strange behaviour and to my knowledge isn't the default behaviour of Windows 7.

Windows 7 should not prevent the the installer from creating the other shortcuts in the respective folders by default. In fact you should be able to see them just fine by going to the start menu, and typing in your respective programs name; the usual options related to your program should appear. (things like the uninstall options etc.)

As a test, try and install your program as usual (with admin rights if possible), and afterwards, check to see whether the usual shortcuts have been made at this path:-

For programs that you've explicitly mentioned to be installed on your user account only:-

Code:

C:\Users\(YourUserName)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\(YourProgramsName)

For programs installed for all users:-

Code:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\(YourProgramsName)

Hope that helps!

stormy13 · 11 Jul 2012

Have you tried right clicking on games you have installed? Most of mine have what you're looking for in the context menu that opens, and a few have created a folder in the Start menu with those listed. As far as the uninstallers go, those will be in the usual place, Programs and Features.

Konstantinov · 13 Jul 2012

RyanFialcowitz said:

When I install a game in Windows 7 and Windows recognizes it it dumps the game's shortcut in the Game folder of the Start Menu. That wouldn't be a problem except Windows 7 prevents the game from creating the shortcuts it would have created had the operating system not been Windows 7- things like the game's Read Me, Uninstaller & Configuration options.

Is there some way I can prevent this behavior?

- Ryan Paul Fialcowitz

Hm, that's interesting. I can't think of any definite solution, but to rule out something, are you using 2 hard drives in your pc?

RyanFialcowitz · 16 Jul 2012

It turns out Steam puts the shortcuts there for all games installed through the service. What threw me was a non-Steam game that did the same thing. But having tested it everything appears normal and I thank you for the replies.

- Ryan Paul Fialcowitz