How to open a shortcut that has been changed or deleted?
 

I need a tip for saving the contents of a shortcut that will not work and therefore must be deleted.

If a shortcut no longer works, the contents of the folder or file the shortcut points to should still be on your hard disk drive.

If you have a folder which contains most of your important files, but the shortcut continuously fails, then you could be dramatic by using a different quick access approach. (keep in mind I'm not a windows user per se.)

Which Windows version are you using?

Shortcuts
 

Many thks for prompt reply.

I am on windows 10.

As the shortcut that won't work is still on the hard disc, how do I access its contents there?

Renewed thanks and best regards.

Joe

If the shortcut has the same name as the item you are attempting to open, be it a file or folder, then use Window 10's search function using that name (minus any reference to shortcut.) After locating, instead of creating a new shortcut for it you can Right-click the file or folder and choose Pin to Start. Thereafter the file or folder will appear in the Start menu.

Attachment 7098 (click to enlargen image)

There's also the Pin to Quick access option instead of pin to Start.

Shortcut headache
 

Many thks for your latest tip about the shortcut problem.
Have tried to work it out, but unfortunately to no avail. Probably due to my limited knowledge of pc navigation.

Perhaps i did not put my problem clearly enough in my last email. What frustrates me is that the pc is in the habit of creating unwanted shortcuts.

On trying to open the shortcut, you get the warning that it won't work properly as it has been moved or changed, followed by the question "Do you want to delete it ?"

Whether i like it or not, I have to answer that i don't want to delete it.

I am thus left with the unsolved (perhaps unsolvable !) problem of being unable to retrieve the contents of the shortcut.

As always, my thks for yr kindness and patience

Joe

Joe

The idea is once you use the Pin to Start option, that file or folder will then appear in your Windows 10 Start menu. Probably not at the top of the screen but further down. Not the left side of Start menu where the list of menu items is, but instead to the lower right side of the screen where all the icons are shown.

Folder on Desktop called Examples; Right-clicked and Pin to Start:
Attachment 7099

Examples folder reference in Start Menu:
Attachment 7100


I know with the earlier Windows such as XP I will be periodically asked by the system if I want to clean the desktop due to unused or rarely used icons (shortcuts) and I always answer "no". I answered yes once and regretted it. I think you will simply need to continue to answer "no" despite the repetitive and annoying nature of the system asking such questions. A Windows expert might know how to disable these system questions being asked in the first place. Probably my main dislike of Windows is the naggy nature of both the system and 3rd party apps. This appeared to be more of a problem in the earlier Windows versions, though that might be because I spend more time on the earlier Windows versions.