Is there an easy way to stop the computer from creating shortcuts in Windows 10 ? I ask this because I am tired from having to delete shortcuts when told they no longer work properly.
My bid headache results from losing the shortcut. If. for example, I have to delete the shortcut for Facebook, how do I reinstal the program?
Why does the computer keep creating shortcuts when i don't need them and I never ask for them?
Joe B.

Still problems with your shortcuts!?

When you refer to Shorcuts in Windows 10, are you referring to the Desktop or the Start menu (or Taskbar)?

I have been aware many years Windows Shortcuts are not as reliable as MacOS Alias equivalent. You can even move the original item into different folder on MacOS and the Alias will not break, but this does not work if a different drive.

On Windows however, as I mentioned in a previous thread about this topic, a shortcut will usually break when the original item has either been moved elsewhere or deleted from the system.

I have a suspicion you are making an error when you right-click an item; potentially choosing the wrong option which creates or breaks the shortcut.

Many installers will create shortcuts. Those from Developers with some sense of ethics will ask if you wish a shortcut to be created. Some installers might not ask and install shortcuts anyway.

AFAIK these are the methods of creating some form of shortcut:
Pin to Taskbar,
Pin to Start,
Pin to Quick access,
Send to > Desktop (create Shortcut).

Many thanks for your prompt reply, not least for all the details it contains.

This shortcut problem has been has been annoying me for quite a while, and apparently there is no solution to it.

My desktop icons sometimes vanish unaccountably, and after restoring them
they all work well again.

What irks me is that, after a while, suddenly I get the message QUOTE This shortcut has been moved, changed or deleted, and therefore it won't work properly. Do you want to delete it? UNQUOTE

A Microsoft quirk, perhaps?...

Another headache: why does the pc create a shortcut when I don't want it ?

Renewed thanks. Joe

I more or less answered your questions above, though perhaps not directly.

You did not answer the question I asked in bold about what kind of shortcuts you are referring to.

One other thing I notice on an earlier Windows, on XP I receive system pop-up messages (relatively frequently in an annoying way) about unused icons (shortcuts) or a similar message and asks whether I wish to clean them up. I learnt many years to always answer no, otherwise it causes problems.

You might remember I am almost entirely a MacOS user. I only use Windows 10 for testing. I do not know all the ins and outs of the Windows system or all the quirks of the system. So I am not the appropriate person to answer your questions about shortcuts.
I invite anybody else to assist here if you think you know the answer to this shortcut topic.