When I try to open a shortcut, I sometimes get the message QUOTE This shortcut has been changed or moved. It will no longer work properly. Do you want to delete it? UNQUOTE
This message is received when I have neither changed nor moved the shortcut. If I say YES, the shortcut and its contents vanish; If I say NO, the shortcut contents vanish as well.
Is there a way to solve this problem. please?

Many thanks for your help.

Joe Busuttil

If you select NO, the Shortcut should still remain. If you click the Shortcut it should ask you do you wish to search for the original file. At least that was the behaviour in the earlier Windows versions.

Whilst you suggest you have not done anything, Shortcuts break when the original item has been moved from its original position at the time the Shortcut was created. You might have renamed the original file or moved it.

You can do a separate files & folders search for the original item. Once you find the original file/folder & know, note the location down such as in WordPad. Then go to the Shortcut, right-click & choose Properties. Change Target location to the one you noted in WordPad (can probably just copy-paste), select Apply & OK buttons. The Shortcut should now work.

Win 10 Search: . Win XP: . Win 10:


I believe you asked this same question some time ago. https://www.gnutellaforums.com/chat-...shortcuts.html But since I'm personally not highly Windows knowledgeable I probably did not respond at the time (I'm a mac os user.)

I know on Win XP periodically I'm constantly asked by the System about unused or rarely used Shortcuts/icons & cleaning up the desktop. I always select NO. Otherwise I found problems or inconveniences occur. Keep that in mind. Windows did or does have some annoyingly unhelpful built-in routines.

Many thks for prompt and very detailed reply. I have no shortcuts on my pc at the moment, but will consult your method when the occasion arises. Meanwhile, can you, please, send a clearer image for the solution in Windows 10, as I cannot read it, even though I have magnified it. Thank you again. Joe

Your welcome. You need to click the Thumbnail image to see a larger image; the thumbnail will open up into either a larger popup image or into its own web page depending on your web browser settings.

The actual image sizes are 1:1 with the original menu sizes, ie: direct snapshots.
Once you have opened the full size image(s) you can right-click them & choose Save Image As ... to your computer where you can expand the dimensions manually via your computer's image viewer.

Thank you again. The figure for the shortcuts is now very clear, as I enlarged it, using your method.

Very kind of you to be so patient with me and so very helpful. (I am now 82 yrs old...)

Joe Busuttil