CWD Forum Topic: Remove shortcut text from Windows shortcuts?

cwd on "Remove shortcut text from Windows shortcuts?"

cwd — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:14:15 +0000

Yes, the shortcut link value will most likely get reset if explorer.exe is running. Here's how to proceed:

1) Create a restore point & backup registry
2) Close out all applications, files, etc.
3) Type "regedit" in your Start Menu search box
4) Browse to the above mentioned location
5) Hit Ctrl + Alt + Del and select "Start Task Manager"
6) Click on the "Processes" tab
7) Note - this will close out your taskbar and all desktop icons. Select "explorer.exe" and hit the "End Process" button in bottom right. Say yes to the confirmation.
Change the value of the registry key as specified above
9) OK out of the registry
10) In Task Manager, select File > "New Task (Run)" and type in "explorer.exe"
11) This should restart Windows Explorer, and your shortcut icons should now be created without the "Shortcut" link text.

Anonymous on "Remove shortcut text from Windows shortcuts?"

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:05:49 +0000

Note that if your regedit changes are not saved, you may need to kill the "explorer.exe" process prior to making this change. Then reboot.

cwd on "Remove shortcut text from Windows shortcuts?"

cwd — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:57:03 +0000

Yes, it involves a registry edit, however, so make sure you backup your system before proceeding.

Save and close out all files and applications or reboot your PC before proceeding.

Launch your registry editor via Start menu > type "regedit" and press Enter. If a User Account Control window appears, select "Yes." You want to browse to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer

Double-click on the "link" item in the "Name" column, and change it's value to "00 00 00 00" Close the registry editor to save your changes and reboot your PC.

New Windows shortcuts you create (the fix does not apply to existing shortcuts) will now no longer have the annoying "- Shortcut" text appended.

sam on "Remove shortcut text from Windows shortcuts?"

sam — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:26:52 +0000

Is there a way to remove the annoying "- Shortcut" text that is added to shortcut filenames in Windows? Particularly Windows 7 - when I create a shortcut via right-click, "send to desktop" that stupid shortcut text appears. Then I manually delete it, but when I have many shortcuts to create this wastes a lot of time.