Windows 10: migrating file shortcuts grief

(Version 20H2 OS Build 19042.685)

I'm in the process of moving a bunch of files from an old computer to a new one.

In amongst the regular files and directories, the old computer has a lot of shortcuts. Things like "A - Shortcut" in C:\Users\Joe\Foo targeted to the file A in C:\Users\Joe\Bar.

I figured that as long as my user name and the rest of the path was the same on my new computer, I'd be fine. Well, I think I figured wrong:

After moving the files (via robocopy) over to the new computer:

• I've still got "A - Shortcut" in C\Users\Joe\Foo and according to its properties it's still targeted at C:\Users\Joe\Bar\A
• And I've still got the file A in C:\Users\Joe\Bar

But when I try to access "A - Shortcut" I get something like "The drive or network connection is unavailable".

If I create a new "A - Shortcut" in directory Foo (targeting A in Bar) it works fine, but the old "A - Shortcut" (which has exactly the same target in its property description) doesn't work.

I gather there's more to shortcuts than just the target listed in the property description *Sad.

Any suggestions for how to handle this other than going through and fixing all the shortcuts by hand (there's hundreds of the darn things!) would be really appreciated!

The old computer was a Windows 7 machine (believe it or not), if that's relevant.

:)

 

Screensaver shortcut

I did this"
Search Results

I would suggest you to try the following steps and check if that helps.

• Go to the folder C:\Windows\System32 and sort by file type.
• Look for the screensaver file type (.scr).
• Find the file scrnsave.scr(you can choose any of the screensavers).
• Right click and select send to>desktop (create shortcut). The shortcut on my attachment, but when i click on it my screen goes off and on and nothing else.

 

How to pin app shortcut to desk top?

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to follow below steps to change pin the apps on the desktop screen and check if it helps.

Step 1: I suggest you to perform the below steps to add the apps on desktop.

• Click on the “Start button” and locate the App that you want to pin to Desktop.
• Right click on the “App” and click on “More options”.
• Then click on “Open File location” and right click on the app, click on “Send to” option.
• Then select “Desktop (Create shortcut)”.
• Go to “Desktop” and check whether the app is located or not.

Or Step 2: To add shortcuts to the desktop

• Press and hold or right-click the desktop, tap or click New, and then tap or click Shortcut.
• Enter the location of the item or tap or click Browse to find the item in File Explorer.

Hope this information is helpful and do let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to assist.

 

Creating Shortcuts with Batch File

Threw a program together quick for you. It is attached with source in the other. Use it in place of your VBScript.

It supports:
CreateShortcut [save shortcut] [path to run]
CreateShortcut [save shortcut] [path to run] [icon index]
CreateShortcut [save shortcut] [path to run] [icon file]
CreateShortcut [save shortcut] [path to run] [icon file] [icon index]

If "icon index" is missing, it assumes 0. If "icon file" is missing it assumes "path to run." It doesn't presently support arguments to be added to the shortcut nor modifying the working directory (always assumes same directory as "path to run").

Requires .NET Framework 4.0 to run. Will run natively on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.