Newly created desktop shortcut in explorer.exe disappears with every bootup


ljdarby

Active member
Local time
6:27 PM
Posts
19
Location
Lafayette, LA
OS
Win11 Pro
As far back as Win7, I have been using the following created desktop shortcut for Windows Explorer to open my favorite directory (Larry) within explorer.exe. The shortcut is given here: c:\windows\explorer.exe /n, /e, E:\Larry
Having recently upgraded to Win11 Pro from Win10 Pro, I find that this desktop shortcut disappears at every bootup. As a test, I have copied the newly created shortcut to both my taskbar and the start folders- on bootup, all three locations show NO shortcut. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem which never appeared in Win7 nor Win10?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Made
    CPU
    Intel i7-11700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Z590P
    Memory
    32GB GSkill
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R7 200 Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    WD- two chip type & one SATA, plus one external WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Old
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    100mbs
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
I’m wondering if it has anything to do with the more aggressive Win11 security?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8940 XPS
    CPU
    10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700, 2.90GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell 0KV3RP (U3E1)
    Memory
    32GB, 2x16GB, DDR4, 2933Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) RTX 2060 SUPER(TM) 8GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Onboard, Realtek Codec, NVIDIA Hi Def Audio, Intel Display Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell UltraSharp U3415W
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD; 2TB Samsung SSD 860 EVO; 2TB Samsung SSD 860 EVO 2
    PSU
    500 W Dell
    Case
    Night Sky Bezel Chassis
    Cooling
    Dell
    Keyboard
    Logi Wireless
    Mouse
    Logi Wireless
    Internet Speed
    111 Mbps Download, 132 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Falcon Northwest Talon
    CPU
    Intel 13900K Core I9 24 Core LGA 1700
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Z970 Maximus Hero
    Memory
    32GB (2x16) Kingston Fury Beast 6000MHZ DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    nVidia 4090 Founders Edition
    Sound Card
    Motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 34” Curved OLED
    Screen Resolution
    4K
    Hard Drives
    SSD M.2 Kingston Renegade Fury 4 TB x 2; Western Digital Red Pro 8 TB SATA III
    PSU
    1000W ECGA Platinum Modular ATX
    Case
    Falcon NW Custom
    Cooling
    AIO Falcon NW 280mm Liquid Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech G502
    Keyboard
    Logitech Pro Gamer
    Internet Speed
    111 Mbps Download, 132 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes
    Other Info
    Noise Blocker Fans
I can make a shortcut to a directory on the desktop. It doesn't disappear after a reboot.

That shortcut apparently can't be pinned to the taskbar, though. Shortcuts to programs can be pinned.

I used an account with admin privileges.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) Kingston DDR5 5200 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1600 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    1200 Mbps
  • Operating System
    windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA329C
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8 TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
That shortcut apparently can't be pinned to the taskbar, though. Shortcuts to programs can be pinned.
Folder shortcuts can be pinned, using a custom layout XML.

It's not very exciting if you pin both Explorer and a folder shortcut, as the two icons have identical appearances. :rolleyes:
Windows 10 x64-2022-11-02-22-13-39.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Folder shortcuts can be pinned, using a custom layout XML.

It's not very exciting if you pin both Explorer and a folder shortcut, as the two icons have identical appearances. :rolleyes:

(snip)
Beyond my capabilities.

Or, I don't care.

Pick one. Or both. ;-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) Kingston DDR5 5200 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1600 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    1200 Mbps
  • Operating System
    windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA329C
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8 TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
The shortcut is given here: c:\windows\explorer.exe /n, /e, E:\Larry
And it will behave the same way if you shorten it to
c:\windows\explorer.exe E:\Larry
- Windows has been ignoring those command line switches for a decade now.
- The shortened form of the shortcut should not disappear at reboots.

Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296

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