Problem with Shortcuts.

[Poppa Mintin]

Hi,

We have a very low-cost light-weight Windows 10 notebook which we use when traveling.
Mostly I can add a shortcut icon to the taskbar in the usual way... Click a shortcut on the desktop, drag it to the taskbar and release.

I have two shortcuts to home-made applications which simply will not add to the taskbar. I've also followed the recommended methods to achieve this, right click, from the pop-up menu select 'Pin to taskbar'... However right click the shortcut... No 'Pin to taskbar' option only 'Pin to start'.

They are pinned to the start, I can unpin 'em too but that makes no difference, I still don't get the option to 'Pin to taskbar'.

Other shortcuts do add to the taskbar in the usual way without problem including home-made apps. The two shortcuts in question add correctly to my usual laptop's taskbar in the usual way.

Is this a common problem ?
Is there a way round it ?


Poppa

[Steve R Jones]

Check this out:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...1-ccd2184041e2

Scroll down to the section:
"Certain files can't be Pinned to the Taskbar or Start menu because the programmer of that particular software has set some exclusions. For example a host application like rundll32.exe can't be pinned and there is no point Pinning it."

[Poppa Mintin]

Thanks for the reply Steve,

I looked at the URL and followed the links, I see what you mean but if there were stops applied I don't believe the shortcuts wouldn't be able to be pinned on any machine, whereas I have no problem with either on two other laptops.

I can't see where to apply stops even if I wanted to.


Poppa

[jdc2000]

Possibly useful links:

https://www.tipsdotcom.com/cannot-pi...o-taskbar.html

https://www.tenforums.com/general-su...s-taskbar.html

[Poppa Mintin]

Thanks JDC,

I've looked at those two URLs, the first is concerned with shortcuts which do not pin to the taskbar... My two problem shortcuts don't pin on only one machine.

The second recommends a fix-it tool 'Free download', download it, install it, run it...
I will not use 'Blackmail' programmes... "There are all these terrible things wrong with your computer... Buy this package to fix 'em."

No thanks... un-install.


Poppa

[jdc2000]

You can just ignore the "free download" ads.

The issues that the links mentioned included certain reserved words that cannot be in a Taskbar shortcut. To test for this, try renaming your Taskbar shortcut to something like "TestProg1" to see if you can then get it pinned.

Also, if you only have issues on one computer, there could be a registry setting that may be preventing something.

Link:
https://www.isunshare.com/windows-10...hat-to-do.html

The second link describes some techniques that may allow yo to create a different shortcut that you can pin that launches your program.

[Steve R Jones]

Is the homemade app installed to the same folder/location on all three computers?

Do you have the same User Permissions on all three?

[Poppa Mintin]

Is the homemade app installed to the same folder/location on all three computers?

Do you have the same User Permissions on all three?

No, the locations are different on all three computers but transportable, oughtn't to make any difference I'd've thought.

Yes all permissions are the same.


Poppa

[jdc2000]

What name are you trying to give the Shortcut?

Post the file name for the application (Example: MyApp.exe)

Have you tried the method where you call Explorer.exe to launch the program from a Taskbar shortcut?

Have you tried a Shortcut to a .bat file that launces the program?

[Poppa Mintin]

I have no idea how to go about using Explorer for that purpose.
I haven't used a .bat file for about 30 years !

The two files in question are: -

Diary_V7.exe.exe
Diary_UpDate.exe

Poppa

[OptionBase1]

As a shot in the dark, on a PC that pinning isn't working:

If you navigate to the folder that the exe file exists in, and right-click the exe file and choose properties, is there a message at the bottom of the properties screen that says something like "This file came from another computer...", and gives you the option to "Unblock"? If so, after unblocking, are you able to pin it?

[jdc2000]

OK, those file names are .exe files and should not contain reserved words.

Here is a link with information on how to pin a .bat (batch) file to the Taskbar:

https://www.tenforums.com/general-su...,My%20Computer

The batch file is just a text file, created with Notepad, that has the file extension changed to .bat

The contents of the batch file would be something like this:

start /d "C:\PathToProgram" Diary_Update.exe
exit

Or

start /d "C:\PathToProgram" Diary_V7.exe
exit

Replace PathToProgram with the appropriate path where the program .exe file resides.

Note: I assume that Diary_V7.exe.exe should really be Diary_V7.exe (no duplicate .exe extension).

https://www.tenforums.com/software-a...atch-file.html

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001345.htm

[Poppa Mintin]

Note: I assume that Diary_V7.exe.exe should really be Diary_V7.exe (no duplicate .exe extension).

Oh! Yes.

I used .bat files back in the 70's and 80's not used 'em since but not forgotten how to use 'em.

I WILL NOT USE Blackmail programmes. Free to download but not free to use.


Poppa.

[Steve R Jones]

No, the locations are different on all three computers but transportable, oughtn't to make any difference I'd've thought.

Yes all permissions are the same.


Poppa

Not all folders are created equal. There can be a huge difference between a folder YOU created and a folder that WINDOWS created.