Solved Desktop shortcuts appearing out of the blue

cbreemer · Oct 25, 2024

A strange thing occurred today, which I've never had happen before. Just now I noticed three shortcuts on my Desktop that I had not put there. I have only a handful of things on my desktop, like to keep it very clean, so I immediately notice something like this. The shortcuts are of software I have installed and occasionally use (LibreOffice 24,8, WinSCP and VLC Media Player) but I have not installed or updated them recently. In fact it's been months since I last used WinSCP, finding it via the Start button and not through a shortcut. I've also had no Windows updates (put them on hold for a year because of the 24H2 problems). Writing this I remember that this morning, totally out of the blue, a command window briefly popped up. It looked like a Powershell window (because of the colors) but it was just a split second so I could not see the contents. Perhaps it's related.

Argh.... I hate this sort of Windows trickery happening behind my back. Anybody got an idea what may be happening here ?

DennyZenny · Oct 25, 2024

Are you certain these apps have not updated themselves in the background? It's common for some applications to place shortcuts on the desktop when they are installed by default, but I am aware that this can happen after an update for some programs.

mickey52 · Oct 25, 2024

maybe try sfc /scannow you might have to see if there is a corrupt file there is a space between sfc and /scannow

LesFerch · Oct 25, 2024

I suspect OneDrive desktop sync.

Sir_George · Oct 25, 2024

mickey52 said:
maybe try sfc /scannow you might have to see if there is a corrupt file there is a space between sfc and /scannow

Just a "heads-up" no space is required.

glasskuter · Oct 25, 2024

LesFerch said:
I suspect OneDrive desktop sync.

this ^^^^^^^^^^^

cbreemer · Oct 25, 2024

Thanks all for the replies ! This forum really is a great place.

sfc /scannow did not report any problems.
But I checked the dates of files behind these three shortcuts and it looks like they were all updated this morning, around the time when I had just woken up my computer - which may have also been when I saw that command popup flash by. Phew, I wasn't even aware these apps were auto-updating. As I wrote, I had not seen this happen before (or maybe I just don't remember).
So yes, updated apps were evidently the cause of this. I'll keep it in mind so as not to be surprised next time.

As for OneDrive, I know a lot of people here have hate it. But I am a happy OneDrive user and have never had any issues with it (except it occasionally needs some prodding to sync my OneDrive folder with the web).

XxXxX · Oct 25, 2024

i have just had the same and its the microsoft store doing updates to installed apps.

best of luck, Steve ..

cbreemer · Oct 25, 2024

XxXxX said:
i have just had the same and its the microsoft store doing updates to installed apps.

Thanks for the update. I'm pretty sure I did not download these from the MS Store (I habitually use the relevant website or else a site like Softonic) but it would not surprise me at all. I'll have to check if this can be disabled - I hate Windows/MS doing stuff behind my back.

Winuser · Oct 25, 2024

cbreemer said:
Thanks for the update. I'm pretty sure I did not download these from the MS Store (I habitually use the relevant website or else a site like Softonic) but it would not surprise me at all. I'll have to check if this can be disabled - I hate Windows/MS doing stuff behind my back.

Look them up in the MS Store. It will show if the store app is installed.

cbreemer · Oct 25, 2024

Winuser said:
Look them up in the MS Store. It will show if the store app is installed.

Good tip, thanks. I did and none of the 3 listed as installed, they all show the Get button (or a button with a price). So I don't see why MS Store should be updating them. Interestingly, it seems you need to pay for WinSCP and LibreOffice here, while these are downloadable for free from their own websites. Go figure

LesFerch · Oct 25, 2024

cbreemer said:
Interestingly, it seems you need to pay for WinSCP and LibreOffice here, while these are downloadable for free from their own websites. Go figure

That's actually really common. There's significant additional work to put an app in the Store and the executables must be signed (signing comes at cost that has risen a lot recently). It appears to be a good model to get some income while still providing the app for free for those who don't mind a couple of extra steps.

Winuser · Oct 25, 2024

cbreemer said:
Good tip, thanks. I did and none of the 3 listed as installed, they all show the Get button (or a button with a price). So I don't see why MS Store should be updating them. Interestingly, it seems you need to pay for WinSCP and LibreOffice here, while these are downloadable for free from their own websites. Go figure

It's not the MS Store doing it. I have VLC Media Player on all of my computers and never had a shortcut for it mysteriously popup on the desktop screens.

Winuser · Oct 25, 2024

cbreemer said:
So yes, updated apps were evidently the cause of this.

I've only had VLC notify me when an update was available. I checked to see if there was a setting for automatic updates and all I found was a setting to turn on or off update notifications. Are you it's not because of OneDrive syncing your desktop folder with another computer.

cbreemer · Oct 26, 2024

LesFerch said:
That's actually really common. There's significant additional work to put an app in the Store and the executables must be signed (signing comes at cost that has risen a lot recently). It appears to be a good model to get some income while still providing the app for free for those who don't mind a couple of extra steps.

I see, a revenue model. Yet I wonder if many people go to the store to pay for stuff they can get free elsewhere.

cbreemer · Oct 26, 2024

Winuser said:
It's not the MS Store doing it. I have VLC Media Player on all of my computers and never had a shortcut for it mysteriously popup on the desktop screens.

No, me neither.

Winuser said:
I've only had VLC notify me when an update was available. I checked to see if there was a setting for automatic updates and all I found was a setting to turn on or off update notifications. Are you it's not because of OneDrive syncing your desktop folder with another computer.

It seems unlikely as I don't have any other computers except my smartphone and iPad. But I guess it can't be ruled out either...
I found that LibreOffice will update automatically, which I've now turned off. WinSCP will only auto update that if you have donated, which I haven't. I can't find if and how VLC handles updates.

Winuser · Oct 26, 2024

cbreemer said:
I can't find if and how VLC handles updates.

When the preset time comes a popup will show asking if you want to check for updates. you can find the setting by clicking on Tools > Preferences and scrolling to the bottom. It's under Privacy/Network Interaction > Activate update notifier.

cbreemer · Oct 26, 2024

Winuser said:
When the preset time comes a popup will show asking if you want to check for updates. you can find the setting by clicking on Tools > Preferences and scrolling to the bottom. It's under Privacy/Network Interaction > Activate update notifier.

Ah, thanks for that. Seems like I had not looked very carefully

Winuser · Oct 26, 2024

cbreemer said:
Ah, thanks for that. Seems like I had not looked very carefully

Don't feel bad, I didn't see it the first time I looked.

Winuser · Oct 26, 2024

@cbreemer, I think what throwed us off is that it' under Interface Settings.

Solved Desktop shortcuts appearing out of the blue

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