removing shortcut

[dutch53045]

I have a chart I have been using to track rental payments and I must have changed something because when i want to open it it says item this shortcut refers to has been changed or moved so shortcut will no longer work. Can anyone help

[RicheemxX]

Are we to assume this is a shortcut on your desktop? that opens a document or what? can you navigate directly to the file and open it?

[dutch53045]

I posted yesterday but did not give complete info
I have a spreadsheet that when I try to open some of the items I get this
The item??????that this shortcut refers to has been changed or moved so this shortcut will no longer work properly
Do you want to delete this shortcut PLEASE HELP

[Steve R Jones]

It sounds like you made a shortcut to a file....and then moved the file somewhere else... You just need to delete the shortcut.

[Interrupt]

[lag caused a double post. please ignore this or delete it. ]

[Interrupt]

OP: Please keep all posts regarding the same subject together so people can respond to them.

I have three solutions. But this is really a shot in the dark. Please reply with, 1) What version of Windows you are using, 2) When you are experiencing this problem, 3) Has a System Restore been used? Do you have a good system restore point? If so try rolling back to then. 4) Has anything changed your Windows Registry since this has been occurring? Such things can include new program installations or some form of corruption.

I agree with Steve... I think it is a broken link association. To fix that:

Broken Link Associations
It may be that you saved the actual spreadsheets elsewhere in your computer and created shortcuts for them to your desktop (usually). Basically the links you are clicking on are shortcuts of the files you are looking for not the actual files. A number of reasons can be the cause of this. You may not have been saving the files at all, merely creating empty short cuts or maybe you created short cuts to the files mistakenly and have since moved or deleted the original files.

Regardless you should probably search your computer for where you put the original spreadsheets.

This can be achieved through the Windows search feature.

What I'd do if I were you is go into excel, make a fake spreadsheet, save it right on the desktop in the excel format and then go to the Desktop & try to open it. Does it work? Let me know. If so right click on each of those links, hit properties, scribble down where they are located. Try to go to that folder in explorer and check if they are there.

Are they? If not there's your problem. Broken associations. You'll need to fix that. In the future making shortcuts to documents that are moved around a lot is a bad idea (I don't make shortcuts to documents at all).

Found this possibility on Microsoft Answers...

Windows Allocation Errors (I've never heard of it which is why I'm reposting it)

This problem occurs because of a Microsoft Windows function that does not allocate the shortcut memory structure correctly if the shortcut (.lnk file) has a target of less than 14 characters.
To work around this problem, make the shortcut read-only. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Right-click the shortcut and then click Properties.
2. Click the General tab.
3. Click to select the Read-only check box, and then click OK.
Check if the issue is resolved.

You may try creating new user account by following the instructions in the link below and check if it is working.
Fix a corrupted user profile
Fix a corrupted user profile
Please post back and let us know if this has helped to resolve your issue.
Regards,
KarthiK TP

(Credit for original post goes to: Item that this shortcut refers to has been changed or moved - Microsoft Answers)

Registry Errors (This is where my money is IF it is not a broken association made by a mistake on your part)
Go ahead and scan your registry with CCleaner and analyze then fix any and all related problems. Link: CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download
Viruses, registry corruption, etc. will often break shortcut associations. Strange as it may sound.

[dutch53045]

Thank you for all the informative answers. I have not had time to try all of them but as soon as I do I will post again to let you know what worked. Thank you
Dutch

[dutch53045]

Hi I am back. My O/Sis Vista. I tried making a new chart but that did not work. I think the Restore will work if I can get to go. I have tried but I cannot get it to go back to the period that I want. I want it to go back two months..When I am asked for a date they have a box that has most recent dates but I don't know where to put the date I want. I do know that the date I screwed up is October 19. Still need your kind help.Dutch

[Interrupt]

Well it's really like this (as far as I'm concerned), it's either an error on your part where you should be saving the files directly to a specific location and opening them like that (instead of using shortcuts) or it's a registry error. Only an error of some kind is going to (maybe) be corrected with a system restore. The fact of the matter remains if you're saving these files improperly, moving them around once short cuts are made and breaking the links, etc. none of that is going to change unless file management habits are changed.

Unless we're all totally misunderstanding what you're saying. When you say shortcut we are thinking it is a link to a real document you created. That's a shortcut. If you mean it is the documents themselves that aren't opening, that's another issue (that's not a shortcut that means there may be a problem with Windows not associating specific file types with their respective programs, that can be fixed). So do you really mean the shortcuts are broken/not working or are the documents themselves not working?

Unsure? To make sure we're all on the same page by taking a screenshot of the icons you are clicking on that aren't working. Take a screenshot image of those "shortcuts" and paste the link URL here so we can see it. Hell... maybe it isn't even shortcuts you're talking about.

To take a screenshot: Go to the screen you want to take a picture of. Hit that "Print Screen" button. Go ahead and open Microsoft Paint and hit Control V and paste it in. Then save the image. Then upload it to an image pasting site and then copy us over the link. We can then see what you mean. Generally shortcuts have little arrows on their icons to indicate that they are shortcuts not direct links to programs or documents.

I realize my messages cover a lot and I'm sorry. I'm trying to be as complete as possible while staying general as I don't know your level of expertise with Windows.

But as for System Restore Points , it'll show you only the system restore points you've created. So if you didn't create a restore point there won't be an option to roll back to that state. You can only restore your system to a state you specified at an earlier date. So - although I've never used Vista for system restores (weird I know) - you'd see if there's a restore date from October 19th, for example. No date? You didn't create one then and you are out of luck I'm afraid. System Restore can only restore System Restore Points.

[RicheemxX]

Dutch you really need to clarify the points marknjas033 and I made.

For starters what program are you using? Is this Excel or something online like Google Docs?

Second as I asked earlier and marknjas033 reiterated is this an actual short cut on your desktop that points to a file or what? If its a file then can you open the file from the folder it is saved in?

Third I now see you mention trying to create a new chart and say that doesn't work. Can you elaborate on what you mean that doesn't work? How doesn't it work? Are you saying you can't save the new file? or once saved you can't re-open it? or what???

[dutch53045]

Hi,I am back.Thank you so much for the answers I am getting. I have a lot of questions and I am not real savy on computers. Be patient with me because I am learning a lot. I am 92 years old but I am no dummy??. One question Take a screen shot and how do I do that. The program I am using was either Excel or M/S spreadsheet. The only reason I say shortcut is the chart says shortcut and if I can send this to you will.see I don't know how to do this. I have made a dummy chart but how can I keep it on the desktop. Thanks and I won't mind if you want to give up on me.
Dutch