Computer newbies forum: Deleting shortcut of uninstalled program

That's strange.

Go into Windows Explorer, find the Desktop folder in your profile (not too difficult, in XP it's Documents and Settings\yourusername\Desktop) and set the view to detail.
Repeat with Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop (All Users is the folder that holds the icons that are user-independent).

If you find it, you should be able to delete it.

Kees

Restart in Safe Mode, then RIGHT click on the shortcut icon in Windows Explorer, choose "Delete"..

How To Start In 'Safe Mode'

If that doesn't do it, then try the free "Moveonboot" program below which should allow you to remove the file:

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/moveonboot.html

Hope this helps.

Grif

still referenced in the iconcache.

Clicking once on the desktop then pressing the F5 key will usually "disappear" the icon but a re-boot never fails.

TweakUI also works for such problems.

Thank you very, very much! Clicking on the icon and pressing F5 worked like a charm!

Worked like a charm !!
Thanks so much.
It literally took a split second !!

You do not need to download something, to delete someting else. Either that's a scam, or a virus. Seriously. Just follow what others have said, and DO NOT download anything that you don't know of, to delete something else.

Right-click the shortcut and select properties. In the window that appears, click the "General" tab. Now open the folder that is listed next to "Location". If the shortcut isn't in there, I would suggest you try running check disk:

chkdsk c: /r

I had a similar problem. My problem was that whenever I tried to delete the shortcut, Windows Explorer crashed. I solved the problem by installing ExplorerXP, a freeware utility available at http://explorerxp.com/. It did not crash when I deleted the shortcut.

If deleting does not work then try the REVERSE way. Check to see how intelligent WINDOWS is working. We all know that the program has been uninstalled but the short cut to the deleted program still exists and windows cannot let you delete the shortcut, WHY??.first thing, this will depend on how the program was uninstalled, number of programs which were using that shortcut and how that program has been operating.(1) User problem.... this is common as some users often ignore rules like restarting your PC soon after uninstalling/Removing a program.(2) Another program might still be using this shortcut if the shortcut has links to shared folder (s).To make it short, instead of deleting that annoying shortcut, right-click on the shortcut then click to open.Let windows search for what was uninstalled, It will fail to find the program to that shortcut then it will give you options whether to fix or delete because the shortcut may no longer work properly. Select to delete then let it take its time to delete it .... and it will delete the shortcut or display a message,,,,then write down that message and let me know....Good Luck

You may apply shortcut fixer to delete the shortcuts of deleted programs. Glary Shortcut Fixer not only fix those destroyed shortcuts, but also deleted those invalid shortcuts.
You can have a try and download it here: http://download.cnet.com/Glary-Utilities/3000-2094_4-10508531.html?tag=mncol;pop