Windows 7 is installing Start menu shortcuts to a "test" folder on my desktop

2

I tidied up my Start menu a while back, organised it into folders and removed programs I do not access. This was also around the time I changed the location of my My Documents/Desktop etc folders via the Location tab of the directory properties (bought an SSD, so moved those folders to a HDD).

Now I'm finding applications (such as the Office suite) are installing their Start menu shortcuts to a directory named "test" on my desktop. These shortcuts don't show up in the Start menu.

I don't even know where to start looking to troubleshoot this. I have noticed that renaming this "test" directory requires administrator permissions. I'm not so much worried about the shortcuts not showing up in the Start menu - I can just move the shortcuts to the correct folder - as I am about the pesky, mysterious test folder on my desktop.

underskor

Posted 2012-07-16T03:33:08.977

Reputation: 446

What happens if you delete the "test" folder? Does it reappear magically when you restart your computer or when you install new programs? – Ove – 2012-07-20T12:54:48.070

Answers

4

I changed the location of my My Documents/Desktop etc folders via the Location tab of the directory properties

There’s your problem. You have inadvertently relocated the Start Menu folder to the desktop.

You need to set the location of Start Menu items to somewhere else/specific by manually editing your User Shell Folders registry entry. There is no simple way to do it with an official interface like with the Documents folder.

For the All Users start menu, you edit the copy in HKLM:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Synetech

Posted 2012-07-16T03:33:08.977

Reputation: 63 242

And don’t forget to reboot after making the change so that Explorer will pick up the change and update the dynamic copy with the static one (in other words, make sure to update User Shell Folders, not Shell Folders). – Synetech – 2012-07-21T00:41:04.973

I should have mentioned that it is the "All Users" Start Menu folder which appears on the desktop. The registry key at the location in those links points to the Start Menu folder of the current user - which is appearing where it should. Any ideas? – underskor – 2012-07-21T13:57:02.300

Edit the one in HKLM (I’ve updated the answer to show the exact key). – Synetech – 2012-07-21T14:11:11.170

Fixed. It was under Common Programs. Thank you! :) – underskor – 2012-07-22T15:19:25.067

Asked: 2012-07-16T03:33:08.977

Viewed: 378 times

Active: 2012-07-21T14:10:54.510