Desktop shortcuts are brilliant time-saving icons that let you instantly open any program you have on your PC. Use this card to learn how to create and customise shortcuts.

FONT PROBLEMS SOLVED

Can I get rid of the ‘Shortcut to’ in the name?

Yes. Right-click and select Rename from the menu to highlight the current title and then delete and type a new name. Alternatively, right-click on the icon and select Properties instead. Under the General tab you can retype the name. In this dialogue box you can also change the icon used if you Select the Shortcut tab and then on Change Icon. In the window double-click on the icon you wish to use and click OK.

When I click on a shortcut a message says that the program cannot be found. Why?

This may be because the program in question has been uninstalled, or because the program’s EXE file has been moved and the PC cannot find it. Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties. Under the Shortcut tab, click Find Target. If the PC can locate the file you will need to drag it back to its original folder. So, right-click on the folder icon in which the EXE file is located and select Explorer from the menu. Click on the EXE file in the right-hand pane and drag it onto its program folder in the left-hand pane. Close this window and click Cancel in the Properties window. When you next click on the Desktop shortcut the program should run.

The Desktop shortcuts on my laptop are difficult to click on with the touchpad. Is there anything I can do?

Yes. You can give your Desktop shortcut a key combination to open the program without using the mouse or touchpad at all. Right-click on the Desktop shortcut for the program you want, and select Properties. Under the Shortcut tab, click in the ‘Shortcut key’ panel and press a letter that you will remember links to the program. Before the letter, you will see ‘CTRL+ALT+’. Press these keys with the letter. Click OK.