Solved Cannot create shortcuts on desktop "windows could not create the shortcut"

Hi, i am having problems with creating shortcuts on my desktop. when i select send to desktop (create shortcut) it comes up with the error:

Windows could create the shortcut. Check to see if the disc is full.

I have over 180 GB free space left.


To get things to the desktop i can drag it into the tab section next to the start icon, and then drag onto desktop.
But when i do this i am always required to give permission and it creates two desktop icons.


i have been having problems with my catalyst control centre but i dont think they are related.

Re: Cannot creat shortcuts on desktop "windows could not create the shortcut"

It may not be it, but it doesn't hurt to do a quick scan with
Malwarebytes

I had something where I could not delete files in Explorer even with a "delete on next boot" type utility. Turns out there was a Registry hack something about "ExplorerNoChange" or some crap. Malwarebytes cleaned it right off and things were back to normal.

You may have gotten some prank registry setting that's not allowing you to properly create icons on the desktop. It's a possibility.

Re: Cannot creat shortcuts on desktop "windows could not create the shortcut"

thanks for the quick reply.
i completed a scan and removed the files, but it did not help.
i did find some trojan programs though so thankyou for that.

but i need something else for the desktop problem.

Re: Cannot creat shortcuts on desktop "windows could not create the shortcut"

The only thing that comes to mind is try Windows Annoyances. Weird little things like that sometimes you can find a fix there.

Annoyances.org - Windows Vista Discussion Forum

Re: Cannot creat shortcuts on desktop "windows could not create the shortcut"

Hello,

This is a long shot, but should do any harm:

• Navigate to the "C:\Users\AccountName" and Right Click on it (the folder) and select Properties.
• Under the Security tab, click Advanced.
• Under the Owner tab, click Edit.
• Click "Other Users and Groups".
• Click Advanced.
• Click "Find Now".
• Scroll down and double click on Everyone.
• Click OK THREE times.
• Click Edit (now on the standard file Property window under the Security tab).
• Click Add.
• Click Advanced.
• Click "Find Now".
• Scroll down and double click on Everyone.
• Click OK.
• Single click on Everyone and then tick the "Full Control" box under Allow.
• Click OK TWO times.

There will be a few files that this will not work on, just click Continue at these prompts.

Richard

Re: Cannot creat shortcuts on desktop "windows could not create the shortcut"

thanks niemiro, i tried your solution but did not help.

Re: Cannot creat shortcuts on desktop "windows could not create the shortcut"

It occurs to me if Malwarebytes found some nasties there may be others it didn't detect. You might want to run some scans with a bunch of the better free av scanners.

Actually that is a very good point (well done again MilesAhead) Can you do as MilesAhead said and also run HiJackThis and upload the log. It may indicate if there is anything nasty running in the background. I will take a look at that log once you upload it. Thanks! HijackThis - Trend Micro USA

Richard

Thanks,
i do have trend micro and it doesn't find anything.
here is my log


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:12:19 PM, on 2/05/2010
Platform: Windows Vista SP2 (WinNT 6.00.1906)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18904)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\NDSTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\TSCFPlatformCOMSvr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Windows\RtHDVCpl.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Power Saver\TPwrMain.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\SmoothView\SmoothView.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\FlashCards\TCrdMain.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\ItSecMng.exe
C:\Program Files\TrueSuite Access Manager\FpNotifier.exe
C:\Program Files\TrueSuite Access Manager\usbnotify.exe
C:\Program Files\TrueSuite Access Manager\PwdBank.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\HDMICtrlMan\HDMICtrlMan.exe
C:\Program Files\Camera Assistant Software for Toshiba\traybar.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\UfSeAgnt.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSCDSPD\TOSCDSPD.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\RemoteFileLock\FLMain.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtMng.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\SmartFaceV\SmartFaceVWatcher.exe
C:\Program Files\Camera Assistant Software for Toshiba\CEC_MAIN.exe
C:\Program Files\TrueSuite Access Manager\CssSvr.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\HDMICtrlMan\HCMSoundChanger.exe
C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\CFSwMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosA2dp.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtHid.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtHsp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logishrd\KHAL2\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPHelper.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\TISProToolbar\PlatformDependent\ProToolbarComm.exe
C:\Windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe
C:\Users\Dominic Spinks\HiJackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = Ask.com Search Engine - Better Web Search
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = MSN.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Bing
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = MSN.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Trend Micro Toolbar BHO - {43C6D902-A1C5-45c9-91F6-FD9E90337E18} - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\TISProToolbar\TSToolbar.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.5.4723.1820\swg.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Trend Micro Toolbar - {CCAC5586-44D7-4c43-B64A-F042461A97D2} - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\TISProToolbar\TSToolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Google Toolbar - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NDSTray.exe] NDSTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [cfFncEnabler.exe] cfFncEnabler.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RtHDVCpl] RtHDVCpl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPwrMain] %ProgramFiles%\TOSHIBA\Power Saver\TPwrMain.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HSON] %ProgramFiles%\TOSHIBA\TBS\HSON.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SmoothView] %ProgramFiles%\Toshiba\SmoothView\SmoothView.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [00TCrdMain] %ProgramFiles%\TOSHIBA\FlashCards\TCrdMain.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ITSecMng] %ProgramFiles%\TOSHIBA\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\ItSecMng.exe /START
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [FingerPrintNotifer] "C:\Program Files\TrueSuite Access Manager\FpNotifier.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UsbMonitor] "C:\Program Files\TrueSuite Access Manager\usbnotify.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PwdBank] "C:\Program Files\TrueSuite Access Manager\PwdBank.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HDMICtrlMan] C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\HDMICtrlMan\HDMICtrlMan.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Camera Assistant Software] "C:\Program Files\Camera Assistant Software for Toshiba\traybar.exe" /start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Kernel and Hardware Abstraction Layer] KHALMNPR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Skytel] Skytel.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UfSeAgnt.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\UfSeAgnt.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TOSCDSPD] C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSCDSPD\TOSCDSPD.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [EA Core] "C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\EADM\Core.exe" -silent
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [OE] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TrendSecure Remote File Lock] C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\RemoteFileLock\FLMain.exe /lock
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [OE] C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [OE] C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [OE] C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: Bluetooth Manager.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe
O4 - Global Startup: TOSHIBA Face Recognition Watcher.lnk = C:\Program Files\Toshiba\SmartFaceV\SmartFaceVWatcher.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Google Sidewiki... - res://C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\Component\GoogleToolbarDynamic_mui_en_96D6FF0C6D236BF8.dll/cmsidewiki.html
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O18 - Protocol: tmtb - {04EAF3FB-4BAC-4B5A-A37D-A1CF210A5A42} - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\TISProToolbar\TSToolbar.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~1\GOEC62~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Ati External Event Utility - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: Authentec memory manager service (Authentec memory manager) - AuthenTec Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\TAMSvr.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: ConfigFree Service - TOSHIBA CORPORATION - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\ConfigFree\CFSvcs.exe
O23 - Service: Google Desktop Manager 5.9.909.30391 (GoogleDesktopManager-093009-130223) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate1ca35f1cac2b2b7) (gupdate1ca35f1cac2b2b7) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Logitech Bluetooth Service (LBTServ) - Logitech, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logishrd\Bluetooth\LBTServ.exe
O23 - Service: MSCSPTISRV - Sony Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\AVLib\MSCSPTISRV.exe
O23 - Service: PACSPTISVR - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\AVLib\PACSPTISVR.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: Security Activity Dashboard Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\SecurityActivityDashboard\tmarsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Central Control Component (SfCtlCom) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\SfCtlCom.exe
O23 - Service: SmartFaceVWatchSrv - Toshiba - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\SmartFaceV\SmartFaceVWatchSrv.exe
O23 - Service: SonicStage Back-End Service - Sony Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\AVLib\SsBeSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Sony SPTI Service (SPTISRV) - Sony Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\AVLib\SPTISRV.exe
O23 - Service: SonicStage SCSI Service (SSScsiSV) - Sony Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\AVLib\SSScsiSV.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Unauthorized Change Prevention Service (TMBMServer) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\BM\TMBMSRV.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Personal Firewall (TmPfw) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\TmPfw.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Proxy Service (TmProxy) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security\TmProxy.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA Navi Support Service (TNaviSrv) - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\TOSHIBA DVD PLAYER\TNaviSrv.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA Optical Disc Drive Service (TODDSrv) - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Windows\system32\TODDSrv.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA Power Saver (TosCoSrv) - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\Power Saver\TosCoSrv.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA Bluetooth Service - TOSHIBA CORPORATION - C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtSrv.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA SMART Log Service - TOSHIBA Corporation - C:\Program Files\TOSHIBA\SMARTLogService\TosIPCSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Ulead Burning Helper (UleadBurningHelper) - Ulead Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ulead Systems\DVD\ULCDRSvr.exe

--
End of file - 12117 bytes

Hello,

There is nothing particularly nasty showing up in that log file. However there is one empty entry that should be deleted (this is not a virus) Please update HiJackThis to the latest version (you are using 2.0.2 and the latest is 2.0.4) and run a scan without generating a log file. Carefully put a check next to the following entry and click "Fix Checked".

O23 - Service: Security Activity Dashboard Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\TrendSecure\SecurityActivityDashboard\tmarsvc.exe (file missing)

Click to expand...

Please make sure that you are running suitable security software, but there are no major problems showing up in this log.

Also, you have quite a few startup items. This is not a problem, except that it may slow your startup times, so you may want to consider pruning some of them in msconfig.

Richard

thanks, i was having slow start ups and it seems to have helped.

i found that i have the desktop folder in two locations which may have something to do with it, 1 is in 'public' folder, and the other is in 'Dominic Spinks' but deleting 1 deletes the other, as if they are the same folder just in two locations, it also doesnt have a normal folder icon.

The 2 desktops are normal; one is from your user account, the other from the Public folder (what was the old "All Users").

Sounds like something got corrupted recently.

I'd try Startup Repair first (Startup Repair - Vista Forums), then, if that doesn't work, How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows.

Finally, try doing a System Restore from a point before the problem occurred (http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html?filter[11]=Backup%20Restore). The trouble with this is that you don't know what caused the problem, so when you repeat whatever it was to bring your system back up to date, it's likely to recur. Try to isolate it by checking after each Windows Update or program reinstall you have to do after the restore.

Ed

thanks, i cant do a system restore because it has been like it for more than 6 months, i have just ignored it because it wasnt a big deal.

and when doing a system repair will that delete anything from my computer?

No, neither Startup repair nor System File Checker will delete anything. They're quite safe.

Ed

the startup repair didnt fix anything and i will try the system file checker tonight

system file checker didnt find anything either

for anyone viewing this site in the future, i solved the problem of two desktop icons for each application (solution found on google) by changing details in the registry settings, if you require this information please reply as i can not remember the location that needs to be changed at the moment but will be glad to help anyone that asks.

This is a totally different approach to the problem, but it worked for me, so here goes: I found that if I had too many icons on my Desktop, my system just wouldn't allow me to add any more. For every icon I deleted off of the Desktop, the system allowed me to add one more. Could that be your problem? (Also, by the way, I had a number of icons on my Desktop that I couldn't see because they were 'technically' off the screen (way to the side, out of visual range), but when I was finally able to access them and delete them, it created room for a number of icons that could also be added to the Desktop.)

no that doesnt work for me, it still has the error when there is just the computer and recycling bin on the desktop. thanks