Deleted Shortcuts Reappear

[is2daytuesday]

What does it mean when previously deleted desktop shortcuts appear again?

 

[Saga Lout]

I've known this to happen where malware has confused a system because the All Users folder controls the folders of the other Users. Have you scanned for malware lately and, if so, with which utility?

Could you please go into Control Panel then update and run Windows Defender.

 

[is2daytuesday]

I've known this to happen where malware has confused a system because the All Users folder controls the folders of the other Users. Have you scanned for malware lately and, if so, with which utility?

Could you please go into Control Panel then update and run Windows Defender.

Thank you for the reply, SL.

Yes, I've scanned for Malware (full scan today) via Windows Defender. I also checked for updates.

By the way, I recognised all of these shortcuts (they were all saved and later deleted by me). None of them were unknown links.

It was weird - as if my desktop screen had been taken back to an earlier time (2 weeks ago). The only difference being that all of my current shortcut links were there as well.

 

[Saga Lout]

I think if you look in c:\users\{yourname}desktop and compare it with c:\users/allusers\desktop you'll find them to be identical. If you then delete the unwanted icons from the AllUsers desktop file as well as your own, you won't see them again on your Desktop.

I'm posting from a Linux machine at the moment so I can't be sure of this but I think you might need to open up the hidden files to see the AllUsers account folders. from that, select the View menu in Windows Explorer then over to the right click on Options and when the All files and folders bit shows, click that. Then in that View menu tick to Show Hidden Files and Folders and untick Hide System Protected Files and Folders. Reverse that later or you'll see shadow ocons on the Desktop. I hope my memory got that right.

It's a fix bit not a proper cure because we still don't know what made the change but at least your scans show you're clean.

 

[is2daytuesday]

Right as rain. Thanks so much for your expertise!

 

[Saga Lout]

Nice one - you're welcome.