# Can't Delete Shortcut from Windows Desktop **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-delete-shortcut-from-windows-desktop/120967 "2002-07-26T17:35:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-delete-shortcut-from-windows-desktop/120967/1 "2002-07-26T17:35:36Z")
When I try to move it to the Recycle Bin, I get a popup that says it’s a read-only file and do I want to move it to the Recycle Bin. After clicking yes, I get another popup that says it cannot delete the file, access is denied, make the sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the file is not currently in use. It is screen save, but is not in use. How can I delete this? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-delete-shortcut-from-windows-desktop/120967/2 "2002-07-26T17:39:05Z")
Depends on the shortcut. If it says that the shortcut (which it treats as a file) is in use, check to make sure that you don’t have anything running that might need that shortcut. In fact, you’re best off closing all other applications, to make sure. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-delete-shortcut-from-windows-desktop/120967/3 "2002-07-26T17:58:03Z")
you sure it is a shortcut? I think we need more info. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-delete-shortcut-from-windows-desktop/120967/4 "2002-07-26T18:03:54Z")
Right click on the icon, then click properties. Click on the “General” tab and then uncheck the Read-only box and click OK. That should do it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-delete-shortcut-from-windows-desktop/120967/5 "2002-07-26T19:59:29Z")
What is the shortcut for? There are a number of Windows-standard icons that Microsoft won’t let you remove, assuming it’s protecting an ignorant user from doing something stupid. You can get rid of most of them by downloading a semi-official hacker utility from the Microsoft site; I think it’s called TweakUI. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-delete-shortcut-from-windows-desktop/120967/6 "2002-07-26T20:39:00Z")
Unless it’s Internet Explorer, which Microsoft insists on making difficult to remove from the desktop. Right click on the icon and select “Delete”. It will then tell you to reboot your machine and IE will disappear. Of course, if you ever reset your internet options to default it will return… ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-delete-shortcut-from-windows-desktop/120967/7 "2002-07-26T20:51:23Z")
_If_ none of the above work, boot into MS-DOS, **cd** to your windows directory then to the desktop directory under that. Do a **dir** to find the shortcut (it’s name may be mangled into 8.3 format with a ~ since you are in MS-DOS). Then **del** the file/shortcut. There’s may be a chance the shortcut is due to an Evil Program that you don’t know is running and it could re-appear. Then you really have to find that program and un-install it. **Note:** Please be reminded that in the future you _must_ provide a lot more information. What OS, the shortcut, etc.