Cannot delete shortcut from Public Desktop?


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Cannot delete shortcut from Public Desktop?


    Hi all,

    My sister recently installed Nokia Suite on my PC so she could connect her phone. Being what it is, it plonked a launch shortcut in Public Desktop. The thing is, I like to have my desktop very clean and organized. I don't want it in my desktop. When I try to simply delete it off my desktop, Windows tries to delete the actual .EXE in Program Files. When I delete it off Public Desktop, it asks for an admin account (which I don't have.) Same sort of thing happens when I do it through CMD. Any ideas? Can I make Windows ignore the Public Desktop folder? Is there another way just to get rid of it?

    Thanks!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,056
    Windows 10
       #2

    Welcome to SF !

    Are you sure Windows is trying to delete the actual .exe file?
    How did you come to that conclusion?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 457
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home Build 15036
       #3

    One thing to try is asking the Admin user to move the shortcut from the public desktop to the individual user's desktop folder. I do that all the time with games that the wife likes. She installs the program, and I have to move the shortcut icons from All Users to her own desktop folder.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Ok! I'll have to ask the admin.

    P.S YoYo, this is my reasoning:

    That pops up when I delete the shortcut.

    Anyway, solved.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3,056
    Windows 10
       #5

    That is normal, it simply states the location of the file the shortcut is linking to.
    Cannot delete shortcut from Public Desktop?-normalw.jpg
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #6

    Um, no, that is not normal. It means exactly what it said. I would be wary of deleting it. When I delete a shortcut, this is what I see:

    Cannot delete shortcut from Public Desktop?-capture.png
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3,056
    Windows 10
       #7

    Similar to what I posted, I have never heard of a case where deleting a .lnk deleted the linked file.
    Perhaps you could shed some light on the subject?

    I think he is either deleting an actual .exe,
    or is it due to security constraints that it is not showing more information about the file?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #8

    Re-reading the error message again, I believe you are right and I am wrong. It doesn't specify a specific file, just the folder, so it should be safe.

    My apologies YoYo155.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3,056
    Windows 10
       #9

    No harm done :) .
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #10

    Have you asked the admin for help and if so what help was given?
      My Computer


 

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