Transfer of icon from applications to desktop in Windows 8.1

Joe Busuttil · #1 January 23rd, 2014

I cannot manage to transfer an icon from my list of applications in Windows 8.1 to the desktop of my pc.

I tried right-clicking on desktop > new > shortcut but got confused what to do when I was asked to give the location of the item I wanted to move.

I gave the location in 3 different ways: I mentioned www.google.co.uk; I mentioned the name of the icon now sitting on the list of applications; I
mentioned desktop; I mentioned Firefox----all to no avail.

What do they mean by "location of the item"? Every time I gave the location as stated above, I got a message telling me that no such file exists.

There was one exception: when I gave the location as Google,
I did get the icon on the desktop, but, horror of horrors, when I went to open that icon on the desktop I only got the window for the google homepage!

Can anyone help me please as I am frustrated?

Many thanks.

Joe

Lord of the Rings · #2 January 24th, 2014

Program folders might be hidden from standard users. Personally I created a shortcut to the 32-bit apps folder. Open a folder & type this in the address bar:
C:\Program Files (x86)

You will find the Mozilla Firefox folder inside.

You can also use
\Program Files (x86)
to type into the desktop shortcut creator & it will work.

To do it the way you are trying to do it, I also had same issue. But, you can use the Browse button to find the program in question.
Computer -> Local Disk (C:) -> Program FIles (x86) -> Mozilla Firefox -> firefox.exe

I suspect the problem with typing in the address of the file in the above process is the path references. There's two ways of specifying paths in windows, 'relative' path & 'absolute' path.
Paths using \ need to be escaped using \\.
This works:
\Program Files (x86)\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe

This also works:
\Program Files (x86)/Mozilla Firefox/firefox.exe

Notice I also needed to specify the firefox extension.

I learnt a little about this when reading ArneBab's mini LW wiki about creating portable LimeWires. And his references helped me to create the LW Security package so LW references it properly.

Joe Busuttil · #3 January 24th, 2014

Many thanks indeed for your kind and detailed reply.

Have just read it, and have to find a moment when I can try out the method you explain so well, and will let you know the outcome.

Your help is outstanding.

Joe