Create .lnk file for quick launch shortcut?

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randolindso - 25 Nov 2006 22:59 GMT

I created desktop shortcuts for shutdown, restart, logoff, and lock
workstation on my pc (xp home, ie7) and then in properties for each shortcut
added keyboard commands to use them that way if so desired. Everything worked
great. Then I decided to add the shortcuts to quick launch. I then deleted
the files from my desktop. The quick launch shortcuts still worked
beautifully when left-clicked on but the keyboard commands quit working. I
got an error box saying "Cannot find the C:\Documents and
Settings\Randy\Desktop\shutdown.exe.lnk file." I then tried creating the new
shortcuts in C:\Documents and Settings\Randy\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch thinking the appropriate .lnk
files would be created but the keyboard commands still tried to point to a
desktop .lnk file. I'm just not sure how to create the correct .lnk file for
each shortcut (if it can be done) but I'm sure someone out there probably has
a solution or work-around for this problem. Thanks in advance.

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randolindso - 25 Nov 2006 23:15 GMT

I've just figured out that I only get the error box about windows not finding
the desktop.lnk file if the original shortcut was created on the desktop. If
it was created within the quick launch folder the keyboard command does
absolutely nothing.

> I created desktop shortcuts for shutdown, restart, logoff, and lock
> workstation on my pc (xp home, ie7) and then in properties for each shortcut
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> each shortcut (if it can be done) but I'm sure someone out there probably has
> a solution or work-around for this problem. Thanks in advance.

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Ayush - 26 Nov 2006 16:07 GMT

You can assign shortcut to any shortcut but that shortcut will not work if the
shortcut file is not on Desktop or Start Menu. So if you want to use the keyboard
method, put the shortcuts on Desktop or in Start menu.

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Replid to [randolindso]s message :
-----------------------------------------------------------

> I've just figured out that I only get the error box about windows not
> finding the desktop.lnk file if the original shortcut was created on
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>> (if it can be done) but I'm sure someone out there probably has a
>> solution or work-around for this problem. Thanks in advance.

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randolindso - 26 Nov 2006 18:07 GMT

Thanks, man. I created and hid the shortcuts in my start folder, copied them
to quick launch and everything works great. But I still would like to learn
more about .lnk files... why the shortcuts have to reside on the desktop or
start menu, etc., etc. Anyone know of any particularly informative reads
about the .lnk files?

> You can assign shortcut to any shortcut but that shortcut will not work if the
> shortcut file is not on Desktop or Start Menu. So if you want to use the keyboard
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> >> (if it can be done) but I'm sure someone out there probably has a
> >> solution or work-around for this problem. Thanks in advance.

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Ayush - 26 Nov 2006 18:53 GMT

You are welcome.

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> Thanks, man. I created and hid the shortcuts in my start folder,
> copied them to quick launch and everything works great. But I still
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>>>> (if it can be done) but I'm sure someone out there probably has a
>>>> solution or work-around for this problem. Thanks in advance.

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Wesley Vogel - 26 Nov 2006 18:08 GMT

Ayush,

> You can assign shortcut to any shortcut but that shortcut will not work
> if the shortcut file is not on Desktop or Start Menu.

These two shortcut keys work and the shortcuts are not on the Desktop or
Start Menu.

Key: Ctrl + Alt + X
Shortcut Location: C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P.Vogel\My
Documents\UTILITIES\ClearClipboard.exe.lnk
Target: C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\My Documents\My Download
Files\ClearClipboard.exe

Key: Ctrl + Alt + R
Shortcut Location: C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel\My
Documents\UTILITIES\regedit.exe.lnk
Target: C:\WINDOWS\regedit.exe

Signature

Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

> You can assign shortcut to any shortcut but that shortcut will not work
> if the shortcut file is not on Desktop or Start Menu. So if you want to
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>>> (if it can be done) but I'm sure someone out there probably has a
>>> solution or work-around for this problem. Thanks in advance.

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Ayush - 26 Nov 2006 18:56 GMT

Interesting, it doesn't work on my computer. I tried creating shortcuts in :
Documents and settings\Ayush\My documents\
Or after creating a Utilities directory :
Documents and settings\Ayush\My documents\UTILITIES

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Ayush [ Be ''?'' Happy ]
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Replid to [Wesley Vogel]s message :
-----------------------------------------------------------

> Ayush,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Documents\UTILITIES\regedit.exe.lnk
> Target: C:\WINDOWS\regedit.exe

Reply to this Message

Wesley Vogel - 26 Nov 2006 19:56 GMT

I just remembered that I have a shortcut to %userprofile%\My
Documents\UTILITIES on my Desktop. That's why those two work.

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Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

> Interesting, it doesn't work on my computer. I tried creating shortcuts
> in : Documents and settings\Ayush\My documents\
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>> Documents\UTILITIES\regedit.exe.lnk
>> Target: C:\WINDOWS\regedit.exe

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Ayush - 26 Nov 2006 20:18 GMT

Replid to [Wesley Vogel]s message :
-----------------------------------------------------------

>>>> You can assign shortcut to any shortcut but that shortcut will not
>>>> work if the shortcut file is not on Desktop or Start Menu.

>>> These two shortcut keys work and the shortcuts are not on the
>>> Desktop or Start Menu.

>> Interesting, it doesn't work on my computer. I tried creating
>> shortcuts in : Documents and settings\Ayush\My documents\
>> Or after creating a Utilities directory :
>> Documents and settings\Ayush\My documents\UTILITIES

> I just remembered that I have a shortcut to %userprofile%\My
> Documents\UTILITIES on my Desktop. That's why those two work.

But still, the keyboard shortcuts of shortcuts in Utilities folder will not work.

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Ayush [ Be ''?'' Happy ]
-------------
Search - www.Google.com | Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org
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Wesley Vogel - 26 Nov 2006 23:32 GMT

Maybe because I have SP1 and not SP2. <shrug>

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Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

> Replid to [Wesley Vogel]s message :
> -----------------------------------------------------------
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> Snip your long urls - http://snipurl.com/
> -------------

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Wesley Vogel - 26 Nov 2006 00:40 GMT

Note
Once you assign a shortcut key combination for a specific program, you will
not be able to use that key combination with other programs.

> got an error box saying "Cannot find the C:\Documents and
> Settings\Randy\Desktop\shutdown.exe.lnk file."

You should be able to click the Browse button to locate the path to where
you relocated the shortcut. I.e. %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Quick Launch

For shutdown and restart, the shortcut keys probably point to...

Shutdown
%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00

Restart
%windir%\System32\shutdown.exe -r -t 00

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Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

> I created desktop shortcuts for shutdown, restart, logoff, and lock
> workstation on my pc (xp home, ie7) and then in properties for each
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> but I'm sure someone out there probably has a solution or work-around for
> this problem. Thanks in advance.

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randolindso - 26 Nov 2006 16:55 GMT

Thanks for the reply but I think I did not explain very well what the problem
is. For example, let's use the Logoff shortcut I created. It points to
%windir%\system32\shutdown.exe -l -t 00. I set the shortcut key to be
CTRTL-ALT-L. If the shortcut is created from the desktop and then copied to
the quick launch the shortcut works, by left-click or by CTRL-ALT-L either
from the desktop or quick launch. But if I delete the desktop shortcut and
leave the shortcut in quick launch the left click still works but CTRL-ALT-L
gives me the "cannot find ....lnk...."error message. And if I create the
original Logoff shortcut in the quick launch folder (instead of on the
desktop) the left-click still works fine but CTRL-ALT-L just simply does
nothing in that case, not even an error message. The problem is obviously
related to the .lnk file but, by not being a very proficient user, I don't
understand much about the .lnk file and what I should do to make it work for
me in this situation, if it can even be done.

> Note
> Once you assign a shortcut key combination for a specific program, you will
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> > but I'm sure someone out there probably has a solution or work-around for
> > this problem. Thanks in advance.

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