I'm attempting to copy a URL link for our companies library system onto all users workstation desktops. I've tried creating a shortcut via Group policy: User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Shortcuts however from what I can tell, this doesn't work onto Windows 7 machines as they're common desktop directories are different. (Running Server 2008 not R2.)
I've also tried copying the shortcut from a server location to the directory C:\Users\Public\Public Desktop. However I'm running into issues as the Public Desktop folder is a hidden folder. Running a command such as
copy "\\server\folder\link.url" "c:\users\public\public desktop\"
does not work as the public desktop folder is hidden, so it just returns a directory not found error.
I have also tried running robocopy \\server\folder\ "c:\users\public\public desktop" link.url
This however just results in robocopy creating another non hidden folder 'Public Desktop' next the the hidden one in the 'c:\users\public' folder.
Similarly using the GPO User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Files to try and copy it in yields no result. For the same reason being the destination folder is a hidden folder.
Is there any way I can manipulate either GPO or some copy/robocopy command to place the file into the preexisting hidden folder for all our Windows 7 workstations.