Putting a desktop shortcut into All Programs?

[John Gray]

The user desktop has a shortcut to a server share, so as to be able to run a program
Q:\RunThis.exe

In fact this is a share in Program Files on the server, so Q: really points to
\\server\c$\Program Files\RunThisFolder

Because the software is installed on the server. there is no entry in All Programs on the user PC's "Start Menu".

Can anyone suggest how I might achieve this?

[The reason for wanting this is that the user can easily access the Start button -> All Programs even if the desktop is covered with a mass of windows, most of which full screen. Currently it is necessary to minimise enough of these windows to be able to get at the area of the desktop where the shortcut icon is located!]

[stuck]

...Currently it is necessary to minimise enough of these windows to be able to get at the area of the desktop where the shortcut icon is located!]

You can completely clear the desktop / minimise everything with one click, on the small bar that's at the right hand end of the task bar, beyond the system tray.

Ken

[HansV]

Does this work?
- Drag the shortcut from the desktop onto the Start button. Keep on holding the mouse button down!
- When the Start menu appears, move the mouse pointer to All Programs, still holding down the mouse button.
- When the All Program menu appears, move the mouse pointer to the desired location for the shortcut, then release the mouse button.

[HansV]

You can completely clear the desktop / minimise everything with one click, on the small bar that's at the right hand end of the task bar, beyond the system tray.

And both Windows key+M (for Minimize) and Windows key+D (for Desktop) have the same effect.

[John Gray]

Thanks, chaps! I managed to completely wreck my open windows by doing various combinations of WinKey+xxx, and I think the only combination which gave a minimise/restore flip-flop was WinKey+D.

I think I will copy
C:\Users\Public\Desktop\RunThis_Shortcut.lnk
to
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

This probably does in a BATch file what Hans suggests via mousey methods!

I shall look up the WinKey keyboard shortcuts, which I've never needed/bothered with in the past...

[HansV]

WinKey+D is indeed a toggle.

WinKey+M isn't, but after using it, right-clicking an empty part of the taskbar and selecting 'Undo Minimize all' from the context menu will restore all windows to their previous size.

[John Gray]

I noticed from my reading that WinKey+Shift+M does the restore windows function.
It appears to be an exception!

[HansV]

I hadn't noticed that one, so thanks!

[Gloucester]

If WIn 7 no need for a special shortcut

in system tray there is by default a shortcut to " desktop"