File Shortcuts

Question

I am sure there is an easy fix to my problem, I just don't know what it is. HELP!

What I need is to be able to retain the integrity of my "short cut" files on my flash drive when I move it from one computer to another. What I do is: I take pictures and file them on my flash drive under file folders of years and then sub file folders of months. Then I have like a photo albums on the same flash drive and I use short cuts in them to save memory space, etc. and this keeps me from having to copy the full photo over and over 5 or 6 times ( 1 copy in Family Album, Another copy of same photo in Christmas Album, Another copy of same photo in Vacations Album, Another copy in Children Album, etc.) My problem is that when I use my flash drive in a different computer, that computer assigns a different drive letter to this flash drive than my computer assigned. So when I go to show my pictures on this other computer, the short cuts don't work. It comes up as "file not found".  I can go to the "properties" section of this short cut and I see that the short cut has the drive letter from my home computer in the target path and also in the starting path, but the drive letter the computer I am trying to use has given my flash drive a different drive letter. I tried just deleting the drive letter from the path in my short cut properties, but then it comes up as an invalid path.  And trying to change the drive letters in thousands of short cut property settings every time I put the flash drive in yet another computer is out of the question. Computers being used = Windows 7, Windows 8, & Vista.

Answer 1

I am still not able to do what I wanted/needed to do. Read my earlier reply.

But right now I am experimenting with trying to use  variables (like %windir%) in the shortcut's target path. but have not been able to have 100% success

I have also been looking at some other inet forums, but still not 100% success.

But a lot of stuff I see other people using, like "...." or a "~"  I don't understand.

If only I could find a variable (or how to make my own)  that would automatically retrieve the "Drive letter" that a computer assigns to my portable drive/memory card when I plug it into a computer.  I think I would be able to use that variable in my shortcut path.

Can anybody help me out here?

Answer 2

Jayant, Thank you for your reply. I can see how your solution may work, but where it would require me going into each of the other peoples computers and changing their disk designation  arrangements. And that is not really what I was wanting to do. I was/am hoping to find a way I can do something like a "relative location" short cut if the short cut and the source are all in the same drive tree. Or may be some "wild card" or variable or something that could replace my target drive letter. I was able to get the "starting in" to accept  \ instead of a drive letter, but I can not get the target to accept it. STILL NEED HELP. Thanks.

Answer 3

Hello Gren,

Thank you for visiting Microsoft Community and providing us with the detailed description about the issue.

As per the description, I understand that you are experiencing issue with when you use the Flash Drive on a different system, that system assigns a different drive letter to the Flash Drive and then the shortcuts won’t work and gives an error message: “File Not found” on the system.

I can understand the inconvenience you have experienced. However, I really appreciate your efforts towards resolving the issue.

There is a possibility that the issue might have occurred due to issue with the permissions.

I would suggest you to try the following steps and check if that helps.

How to change Drive Letter in Windows 8.1, please follow the steps in the link given below.

• Press Windows key + R to open run box.
• Type Diskmgmt.msc in the box, and then hit the Enter key to open Disk Management.
• Once Disk Management is launched, right-click on the drive whose drive letter you wish to change and then click Change Drive Letter and Paths option. This action will open Change Drive Letter and Paths dialog box.

          For instance, if you want to change the drive letter of a drive from ‘R’ to ‘S’, you need to right-click on drive ‘R’. 

• Here, click Change button. Note that if the Change button is greyed out or not available, you need to select the drive letter first.
• Select an available drive letter from the drop-down menu and then click OK button to change the drive letter.
• Click on the Yes button when you see “Some programs that rely on drive letters might not run correctly. Do you want to continue” warning message to change the drive letter.

I hope this information is helpful.

Please do let us know if you need any further assistance, we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

Jayant