[rant]Shortcut icons in Windows 10[/rant]

Sac Arrow

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Snorting his way across the USA
Two weekends ago, Saturday morning, at the kitchen table...

God&*()n f^$#$ HP Pavilion laptop! First, I can't get the VPN to work. They changed the VPN settings to some super crypto-lock NSA CCCP USSR FBI CIA protocol that requires pre-shared key and all. I couldn't get it to work. And by the way the reason I'm messing with the laptop on the table is because, even though it is a laptop and I'd rather have it on the couch in my actual lap, the thing runs so hot it burns a hole in my leg plus then it overheats and shuts down. And by the way it did that just sitting on a wooden table as well, and it was cold in the house plus I have to take it to a hot place in about two weeks....

Monday morning...

IT: "Take a deep breath."
Me: "$&%#$!"
IT: "I'll take it home and try to get it to work over the weekend."
Me: "$&%#$!"
IT: "You know what, let's just get a new one."
Me: "Okay."

Fast forward to today...

I was reluctantly crouched at the starting line,
Engine pumping and thumping in time, and;

Wait. No, I was actually just hoping the IT guy would have the new Lenovo Yoga laptop setup with VPN, Office and the junk I need before the end of the day. Then he plunked it down on my desk. It is hella sweet. It took me thirty minutes to figure out where the button was to turn it on, but after that, it ran faster than a rabbit with a bottle rocket shoved in it's arse. All was good, except....

Where is the VPN icon?

Well guess what. I did find the VPN setup, and in Windows 7, or 6, or 5 or whatever came before I would have just right clicked or dragged it onto the desktop and wah-lah, there it is. But guess what. No amount of clicking, right clicking, or dragging could make it or something with its functionality populate the desktop or the task bar.

So I searched the MS database. No, actually I Googled and found out that I could create a shortcut by right clicking on the desktop and either browsing for the item (not an apparent option for the VPN connection) or by typing in some long path string out of a list of items, which would take me to the VPN setting page, but not to the connection itself.

WTF.

I mean I can live with it, but is there a way to create a link on your desktop in Windows 10 that you just click on and the VPN connects? Like before?
 
Yea....I just updated from Win7-64 and I effing hate Win 10. it's like they had an epileptic seizure designing the UI.

Did I mention how much I think Win 10.sux?
 
Two weekends ago, Saturday morning, at the kitchen table...

God&*()n f^$#$ HP Pavilion laptop! First, I can't get the VPN to work. They changed the VPN settings to some super crypto-lock NSA CCCP USSR FBI CIA protocol that requires pre-shared key and all. I couldn't get it to work. And by the way the reason I'm messing with the laptop on the table is because, even though it is a laptop and I'd rather have it on the couch in my actual lap, the thing runs so hot it burns a hole in my leg plus then it overheats and shuts down. And by the way it did that just sitting on a wooden table as well, and it was cold in the house plus I have to take it to a hot place in about two weeks....

Monday morning...

IT: "Take a deep breath."
Me: "$&%#$!"
IT: "I'll take it home and try to get it to work over the weekend."
Me: "$&%#$!"
IT: "You know what, let's just get a new one."
Me: "Okay."

Fast forward to today...

I was reluctantly crouched at the starting line,
Engine pumping and thumping in time, and;

Wait. No, I was actually just hoping the IT guy would have the new Lenovo Yoga laptop setup with VPN, Office and the junk I need before the end of the day. Then he plunked it down on my desk. It is hella sweet. It took me thirty minutes to figure out where the button was to turn it on, but after that, it ran faster than a rabbit with a bottle rocket shoved in it's arse. All was good, except....

Where is the VPN icon?

Well guess what. I did find the VPN setup, and in Windows 7, or 6, or 5 or whatever came before I would have just right clicked or dragged it onto the desktop and wah-lah, there it is. But guess what. No amount of clicking, right clicking, or dragging could make it or something with its functionality populate the desktop or the task bar.

So I searched the MS database. No, actually I Googled and found out that I could create a shortcut by right clicking on the desktop and either browsing for the item (not an apparent option for the VPN connection) or by typing in some long path string out of a list of items, which would take me to the VPN setting page, but not to the connection itself.

WTF.

I mean I can live with it, but is there a way to create a link on your desktop in Windows 10 that you just click on and the VPN connects? Like before?
What VPN software? There is probably a shortcut in the tray. On the far right of the task bar, there are a group of symbols with an up arrow. That is your tray. Click on the arrow and you will get the complete list. Hover over each icon for a description.
 
I mean I can live with it, but is there a way to create a link on your desktop in Windows 10 that you just click on and the VPN connects? Like before?

If you're using the built-in Windows 10 VPN software, and not something like openvpn:

1) Press Windows-Key + R on your keyboard (or Start + R)
2) This will pop up the "Run" dialog. Type in ncpa.cpl
3) Press enter
4) This should open the "Network Connections" folder
5) If your VPN connection is in there, right-click on it and click "Create Shortcut"
6) This should come back with "Windows can't create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead"
7) Click Yes

If you don't see the VPN connection in step 5, then you're not using the Windows 10 VPN stack, and the steps will differ.
 
Love the Cake reference!

Thanks!

If you're using the built-in Windows 10 VPN software, and not something like openvpn:

1) Press Windows-Key + R on your keyboard (or Start + R)
2) This will pop up the "Run" dialog. Type in ncpa.cpl
3) Press enter
4) This should open the "Network Connections" folder
5) If your VPN connection is in there, right-click on it and click "Create Shortcut"
6) This should come back with "Windows can't create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead"
7) Click Yes

If you don't see the VPN connection in step 5, then you're not using the Windows 10 VPN stack, and the steps will differ.

No, that's not the problem. I have the VPN connection in the network connections folder. The problem is that right-click has no effect, nor does trying to drag it. I can make a shortcut to open the folder from the desktop, but not the VPN connection itself.

Now, I did see that whether by design, or maybe my IT guy did it, but there is in fact a VPN icon within the wireless icon on the tray.

If I can now just figure how how to bookmark things in Edge... (I need Edge or IE for the project management software we are running.)
 
No, that's not the problem. I have the VPN connection in the network connections folder. The problem is that right-click has no effect, nor does trying to drag it. I can make a shortcut to open the folder from the desktop, but not the VPN connection itself.

Now, I did see that whether by design, or maybe my IT guy did it, but there is in fact a VPN icon within the wireless icon on the tray.

If I can now just figure how how to bookmark things in Edge... (I need Edge or IE for the project management software we are running.)

Curious. Can you still create shortcuts to other things in your Network Connections folder?

I was actually the primary developer of the Network Connections folder in the Windows XP to Windows 7 timeframe. (I no longer work for Microsoft though).

I have no idea how a 3rd party product would even go about creating an icon in that folder without the ability to create a shortcut to it. I certainly didn't add that capability. Maybe someone else added that after I left, but why...

What VPN software are you running? I'll try and install it on my box and see what it does.


Very curious now - I didn't think anybody actually touched that code since I left!
 
If I can now just figure how how to bookmark things in Edge... (I need Edge or IE for the project management software we are running.)

You can definitely add a shortcut on the desktop or task bar for an IE location. Just right click on the desktop and create a new shortcut. Put in the full URL. Then, just make sure one of those is your default browser.
 
Curious. Can you still create shortcuts to other things in your Network Connections folder?

I was actually the primary developer of the Network Connections folder in the Windows XP to Windows 7 timeframe. (I no longer work for Microsoft though).

I have no idea how a 3rd party product would even go about creating an icon in that folder without the ability to create a shortcut to it. I certainly didn't add that capability. Maybe someone else added that after I left, but why...

What VPN software are you running? I'll try and install it on my box and see what it does.


Very curious now - I didn't think anybody actually touched that code since I left!

Same thing with the other items in the network connections folder. Completely different interface than in 7. I'm just using the native Windows VPN software on the laptop. It's a hardware VPN on the server side.

You can definitely add a shortcut on the desktop or task bar for an IE location. Just right click on the desktop and create a new shortcut. Put in the full URL. Then, just make sure one of those is your default browser.

Yes, installing IE is one option. I did have another issue with the default browser, inhibiting full functionality of the PM software with Edge but I got through that.
 
Same thing with the other items in the network connections folder. Completely different interface than in 7.

It shouldn't be (and isn't for me on Windows 10). Below is what mine looks like. Can you insert a screenshot of what you see?

Also, try pasting this line into Start\Run and see if it opens the old folder:

explorer.exe /e,::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\0\::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}


ncpa.png
 
It shouldn't be (and isn't for me on Windows 10). Below is what mine looks like. Can you insert a screenshot of what you see?

Also, try pasting this line into Start\Run and see if it opens the old folder:

explorer.exe /e,::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\0\::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}


View attachment 50547

Not at the moment, I don't have the laptop with me here at work, but it doesn't look anything like that. I'll try to post a screenshot tonight if I get time.
 
Alright, cascading rant.

1. They hid the screen snip tool.

2. I found the screen snip tool. Now they hid where it saved the screen snip.

I'll try again the next time I'm sober.
 
I mean I can live with it, but is there a way to create a link on your desktop in Windows 10 that you just click on and the VPN connects? Like before?
Polite response: wishing you good luck in your future endeavors.

Truthful response: that's what you get for installing the WinX adware virus. (yes, it is a virus, just look at its MO and distribution methods *rolleyes* )

Rant continuation: I too was forced (by dumb people at work) to use WinX on the work laptop and I truly share your misery since my productivity has gone to sh*t. It is the worst POS that MS released so far.
People thought Vista was the worst. Well, good news, folks. That isn't true anymore! :D
 
You must have skipped over Windows 8...
Windows 98 was the worst. Windows Vista was a decent OS, but way too locked down. Windows 8 had a bad UI, but wasn't a bad OS. Windows 10 is pretty fast and stable with a better UI, just a little too aggressive on updates (I understand the motivation, but it doesn't work for business computers). People don't like learning new things, though...
 
It shouldn't be (and isn't for me on Windows 10). Below is what mine looks like. Can you insert a screenshot of what you see?

Also, try pasting this line into Start\Run and see if it opens the old folder:

explorer.exe /e,::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\0\::{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}


View attachment 50547
Capture.PNG
 
Click on:
"Change adapter options"

on that page. It should pop up the old folder where you can 'Create Shortcut' from.
 
People by nature resist change

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
I just had my work laptop upgraded to 10. I don't like what they did to the file/copy/overwrite. You used to drop the file in a folder and if there was already a file with the same name a dialog box would pop up with the dates for each file. N ow you have to go through multiple steps to see the file and dates. And what happened to "Edit, Undo Move" move from the menu bar in file explore? I accidentally moved a folder and could not find it. Thankfully I am old enough to remember Control-Z.
You are right, we resist change.
 
Click on:
"Change adapter options"

on that page. It should pop up the old folder where you can 'Create Shortcut' from.

I did!
It was as you described. But, It had, exactly the same effect, as the procedure I did the last time. Sigh.
 
Thankfully I am old enough to remember Control-Z.
You are right, we resist change.
I don't think Ctrl-Z has to do with age but (please don't hate me, y'all) more with intellect. I meet a lot of dumb users every day who wield the mouse around like idiots and take painfully long to do what can be accomplished in a second with a key. Absolute lack of organization and efficiency.
I don't resist change toward better but I sure as heck resist any change toward worse. And that's the way both Microshaft and crApple are heading nowadays. :(
How about this change? Ban Windblows and free Linux for everybody! :)
 
I don't think Ctrl-Z has to do with age but (please don't hate me, y'all) more with intellect. I meet a lot of dumb users every day who wield the mouse around like idiots and take painfully long to do what can be accomplished in a second with a key. Absolute lack of organization and efficiency.
I don't resist change toward better but I sure as heck resist any change toward worse. And that's the way both Microshaft and crApple are heading nowadays. :(
How about this change? Ban Windblows and free Linux for everybody! :)
That isn't practical for most businesses with a heavy investment in legacy applications and processes, not to mention the available support base. But hey, if it works for you, have at it. I have been hearing about the inevitable migration to Linux desktops for over 15 years now and not much has changed, other than the proliferation of tablet computing (dominantly iPad) and mobile phones (dominantly iPhone). Again, the investment in applications gives momentum to those platforms. Name calling doesn't promote your case much. As far as the ability to use keyboard shortcuts, it is more of an expedience thing. If you do something over and over, it makes sense to take the time to be more efficient and memorize that, but GUI interfaces became popular, because it significantly reduces the training needed to perform a task. Especially when combined with a Common User Interface (everything in an expected location from application to application). This can be seen clearly right here in this thread. When MS changed the Common User Interface for Windows and Windows applications, there was a very large and expected outcry (added ribbon Interface, changed menu). Things weren't where you expected them to be and therefore you didn't like having to learn a new way of doing it. But hey, guess what, not much was changed in the way of keyboard shortcuts.
 
And I was wondering when the L discussion would start. I keep wondering why people won't migrate to L box and stop complaining about W box

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
I did!
It was as you described. But, It had, exactly the same effect, as the procedure I did the last time. Sigh.

Not sure what you mean by that...

Did you manage to get the old Network Connections folder open as in my post 11 screenshot, and you still can't right-click create-shortcut on the VPN in there?
 
Not sure what you mean by that...

Did you manage to get the old Network Connections folder open as in my post 11 screenshot, and you still can't right-click create-shortcut on the VPN in there?

Oh I can create the shortcut, but it takes me back to the same point as what shows in the screenshot.
 
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