• New Microsoft Edge shortcuts added to all desktop profiles

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    #2525293

    This week, I began finding new Edge shortcuts added to all desktop profiles on two different desktop machines both running Windows 10 V21H2.  These machines are not synced.  I’ve removed the shortcuts but find them again after rebooting.

    I found/tried a regedit to prevent them but it was for V1803 and doesn’t seem to work for 21H2.  Appreciate any solutions/suggestions for preventing these shortcuts.

    I’m a long time Firefox user and have no interest in trying/using Edge.  Thanks.

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    • #2525296

      I’m finding the same on Win10 22H2 and also Win11.
      And I don’t like it either!

    • #2525316

      I’m not picturing what “new Edge shortcuts on desktop profiles” might mean or look like. Anybody care to elaborate? Where would I see these?

      • #2525321

        I think it may be alternately phrased as ‘new Edge shortcuts on desktop’. It happened on my machines as well, in both Win 10 and 11. A few days ago, on booting up machines, there was a new shortcut to Edge on the desktop. I deleted the shortcuts and they haven’t reappeared (yet).

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      • #2525420

        Each user on a Windows machine has a stored profile where things like their desktop settings, browser favorites, documents/music/picture file locations, etc are stored.

    • #2525338

      I feel like I’m in an abusive relationship with Microsoft.

      Windows 10 Home 22H2, Acer Aspire TC-1660 desktop + LibreOffice, non-techie

      3 users thanked author for this post.
    • #2525353

      This is part of an automatic update of Edge which is separate from Windows updates. Automatic updating ( and preventing automatic updating) of Edge was discussed in this thread
      https://www.askwoodmaster-patch-list-updated-as-of-january-10-2023

      HTH, Dana:))

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    • #2525425

      I’m glad to hear that others have experienced this, too. My shortcuts were for the the Microsoft Edge Beta version.

      I found the new Microsoft Edge Beta shortcut on the desktop of each of my two machines — one was dated Jan 15 and the other Jan 16, 2023. The old ones — dating back to Sept, 2020 — were still there because I had renamed them to ‘Chredge Beta.’ I didn’t know what the new ones were at the time (because I still had the old ones), so I deleted these new ones, but they came back on the next power-up.

      So, now the old ‘Chredge Beta’ ones have been deleted and the new ones have been renamed ‘Chredge Beta’.

      My Microsoft Edge shortcuts were left alone. They still have an August, 2022 date.

      Firefox is my primary browser, but occasionally I have to resort to Microsoft Edge, because when printing a ‘page’ as a .pdf file, Microsoft Edge will format it correctly and omit nothing, by Firefox will insert empty pages and omit some page content (no matter what pdf printer I choose).

      • #2525443

        At the link Drcard:)) provided above at 1:24 pm , see alejr’s January 18, 2023 at 12:14 pm reply.

        Also note Susan Bradley’s “I wouldn’t stop any browser from auto updating” warning immediately below alejr’s reply.

        • #2525528

          There are a couple ways to stop Edge from updating:
          Rename the default update folder that prevents the update from occurring
          or
          Disable the services that automatically perform the update
          Both can be easily undone to update Edge if you desire.
          You can also use a Registry hack to prevent the shortcut from being added when Edge updates if the shortcut addition is your only problem with the Edge updates.

          I agree with Susan’s statement “I wouldn’t stop any browser from auto updating” with one caveat… If you plan to ever use that browser. If you don’t plan on ever using that browser then updating serves no useful purposes and exposes you to all the update problems that commonly occur with updating.

          HTH, Dana:))

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      • #2525723

        So, now the old ‘Chredge Beta’ ones have been deleted and the new ones have been renamed ‘Chredge Beta’.

        And now, today, I had a new shortcut for Microsoft Edge Beta.

    • #2525489

      ghacks.net has an article about eliminating the Edge shortcut here

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    • #2525491

      If might help by blocking Edge from starting on boot. Easy enough to try.

      You can prevent Edge from starting on boot, but NOT with windows task manager. However it shows up nicely using Autoruns from sysinternals.

      This does NOT prevent Edge from routine MS updates.

       

      Edge-Autoruns

      Custom desktop Asus TUF X299 Mark 1 16GB RAM i7-7820X
      Four 27" 1080p screens 2 over 2.
      Laptop Clevo/Sager i7-9750H - 17.3" Full HD 1080p 144Hz, 16GB RAM Win 10 Pro 22H2

    • #2525503

      How to block Microsoft Edge from creating desktop shortcuts

      ..Microsoft Edge seems to create desktop shortcuts after every browser update at the moment. It is unclear if this is a bug or intentional; Microsoft has not commented on that.

      All Edge channels on Windows appear to be affected by the issue. Considering that Microsoft released six Edge Stable versions in the past 10 days, it is clear that the issue can be frustrating for affected users…

      The workaround requires edits of the Registry. There is a global edit that applies to all Edge channels and edits for each individual version of the web browser.

      Global fix (all channels)

      Select Start, type regedit.exe and load the Windows Registry Editor.
      Confirm the UAC prompt.
      Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate
      Note: if a key does not exist, right-click on the previous one and select New > Key. Name it accordingly and proceed.
      Right-click on EdgeUpdate and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
      Name it CreateDesktopShortcutDefault.
      Double-click on the new Dword and set it to 0, if that is not the case already.
      You may also download the following archive. It contains a Registry file that makes the change on the system when executed: edge-block-desktop-shortcuts..

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    • #2525552

      If Microsoft Edge is uninstalled, it gets reinstalled without prompting — to the newest version and build.

      On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
      offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
      offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
      online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender
      • #2525992

        If Microsoft Edge is uninstalled, it gets reinstalled without prompting — to the newest version and build.

        Even if it’s told not to by this registry entry?

        BlockEdgeReinstall

        That’s not been my experience so far, and I’ve been running Windows Update and forcing Defender definition updates several times today after uninstalling Edge nearly 12 hours ago.

        Visually, all I can see left is an annoying artefact in the Start menu:

        edge_in_start_menu

        I’m not impressed by the huge amount of filesystem and registry entries left as detritus by Revo Uninstaller Free. I’m considering reverting back to just before the uninstall and using the commandline method to force a system uninstall of Edge to see if it’s any more efficient.

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        • #2529521

          Microsoft edge is evolving quickly and in multiple ways. You may want to read starting here for other means of inhibiting installation or updates:
          https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/ms-defcon-4-patching-weather-is-clearing/#post-2528695

          I’m not impressed by the huge amount of filesystem and registry entries left as detritus by Revo Uninstaller Free.

          I’ve been using Revo Uninstaller Free as well and appreciate the warning. On the other hand, Microsoft Edge has tentacles.

          On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
          offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
          offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
          online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender
    • #2525703
      What’s really odd, after just updating Edge now:
      -the ‘old’ Desktop shortcut ‘properties’ show date of initial install last year
      -the ‘new’ Desktop shortcut ‘properties’ show today’s date
      -the Edge Taskbar icon ‘properties’ show old date of install last year, yet opens as ‘Updated’ version with all settings intact.
      YET clicking on the ‘old’ Desktop icon opens an entirely NEW Edge ‘Welcome, do you want to import settings or chose Custom’?
      Start Menu shows only one instance of Edge, file location with today’s date.
      Given the above, any advice on which to delete from Desktop, old or new? Delete taskbar icon?
      (Updated Edge as a test as I’m still 21H2, and have not installed Jan CU yet. Alas makes no diff. PS Ghacks registry edit did not work. )
    • #2525711

      I honestly didn’t notice because I leave all browser icons on the desktop.  I never know when I need to try a web page on a different browser.  Haven’t heard any official word if this was an intentional oopsie or just the Holiday team getting rambunctious.

      Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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    • #2525851

      There is a “EdgeUpdate” key already at:
      HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate
      Perhaps try the DWORD Value “CreateDesktopShortcutDefault = 0” there.

      Also, the key exists under HKCU in the same location. If you want the restriction for an individual User, that might work.

      • #2525862

        HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate

        Actually it’s HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate

        • #2525865

          Yes, I read that.
          But someone reported it didn’t work, so I suggested the other Registry location.

          Edit: FYI I have verified that the settings not under “Policy” do not work.

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          Deo
          • #2525901
            I have nothing for “Edge” under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\

            No “EdgeUpdates” under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Edge

            Nothing for Edge under HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft
            Only Edge & “EdgeUpdates” exist at HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate
            (Same both my Admin & User accts)
            note: I manually updated Edge via Admin acct last night. Just logged into User acct offline, and the 2 desktop shortcuts appear there now too.
            • #2525919

              You have to create the key under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft.
              Then create the DWORD Value “CreateDesktopShortcutDefault” under that key and set it = 0 (zero).

              Right click on Microsoft – choose new key
              Enter “EdgeUpdate” (no quotes, Caps in the exact places) then Enter.
              Right click on “EdgeUpdate” – choose New DWORD (32-bit) Value
              Enter “CreateDesktopShortcutDefault” (no quotes, Caps in the exact places) then Enter.
              The default value should be 0 (zero).

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    • #2525861

      Just “manually” updated Edge yesterday afternoon to v109.0.1518.61 and while the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate DWORD Value CreateDesktopShortcutDefault = 0 worked to prevent it from creating a Desktop icon, it still created a icon in the Start Menu.

      Anyone know how to prevent creation of Start Menu icons?

    • #2526004

      Anyone know how to prevent creation of Start Menu icons?

      Sorry, no way to prevent the Start menu icon from being created; but you can go to the Start Menu default location (usually “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs”) and Delete the Edge shortcut icon.

      HTH, Dana:))

    • #2526163

      Anyone know how to prevent creation of Start Menu icons?

      Sorry, no way to prevent the Start menu icon from being created; but you can go to the Start Menu default location (usually “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs”) and Delete the Edge shortcut icon.

      There’s no Microsoft Edge.lnk file there. I just wish it was so simple. 🙂

    • #2526204

      I can’t verify, but Eric-SE (Microsoft Agent | Moderator) posted today in the MS Answers thread Why Does Microsoft Edge Shortcut Keep Appearing on My Desktop? that “The engineering team is currently investigating and working on a solution“.
      ————-
      Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.2486 * Firefox v109.0.0 * MS Edge v109.0.1518.61 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2211.5-1.1.19900.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.20.230-1.0.1868 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279

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    • #2526207

      Anyone know how to prevent creation of Start Menu icons?

      Hi alejr:

      This might not be a permanent fix (at least until this “bug” is fixed), but try right clicking on MS Edge in your Start menu program list and choose “Unpin from Start“.

      Win-10-Pro-v22H2-MS-Edge-Shortcut-Unpin-From-Start-Menu-23-Jan-2023
      ————-
      Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.2486 * Firefox v109.0.0 * MS Edge v109.0.1518.61 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2211.5-1.1.19900.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.20.230-1.0.1868 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279

       

    • #2526243

      @lmacri, it wasn’t “pinned” to the Start Menu, it was a regular shortcut.

      @Drcard:)), as Rick pointed out, the Edge shortcut wasn’t at that location (which is the Start Menu for all users), it was actually located at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu (the Start Menu for my specific user.) Regardless, I was able to delete it by simply “highlighting” it and pressing the Delete key.

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    • #2526249

      This might not be a permanent fix (at least until this “bug” is fixed), but try right clicking on MS Edge in your Start menu program list and choose “Unpin from Start“.

      I don’t know about earlier versions but, in Windows 10 Pro 22H2, *right*-clicking on the Edge icon in the Start menu and choosing Unpin from Start has absolutely no effect.

    • #2526253

      it was actually located at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

      Not on my clean install of Windows 10 Pro 22H2, it isn’t. I even wiped the clean install and did another one minutes ago without doing any of the usual tweaks I do, just to check. No icon.

      One thing… I only *ever* use local accounts, athough I doubt that this is a factor.

      It hasn’t gone online yet. I’ve just checked the version of Edge and it shows as 92.0.902.67. Maybe the Edge version is a factor?

    • #2526272

      There’s no Microsoft Edge.lnk file there. I just wish it was so simple.

      Maybe there is a difference in Home and Pro, but the Microsoft Edge shortcut in the Start Menu is in the “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs” folder. See the attached PDF showing it at that location. The shortcut can be deleted very easily. Some user specific shortcuts in the Start menu can be found at this default location: “C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs”
      Username = user account name

      I’m Windows 10 Home 22H2 build 19045.2364

      Edges-Start-Menu-

      HTH, Dana:))

    • #2526274

      It hasn’t gone online yet. I’ve just checked the version of Edge and it shows as 92.0.902.67. Maybe the Edge version is a factor?

      Latest Edge is Version 109.0.1518.61 (Official build) (64-bit)
      You are way behind with Edge updates.

    • #2526281

      It hasn’t gone online yet. I’ve just checked the version of Edge and it shows as 92.0.902.67. Maybe the Edge version is a factor?

      Latest Edge is Version 109.0.1518.61 (Official build) (64-bit)
      You are way behind with Edge updates.

      Of course. My clean install has not yet been connected to the internet so Edge is still at whatever’s on the MCT installer. 🙂

      I restored the pre-OOBE image primarily because a) I’d forgotten to count the number of services, scheduled tasks and default provisioned apps before running Windows 10 Decrapifier but also because b) I wanted to see what version Edge was before running Windows Update and; c) I wanted to see if I could remove the Edge shortcuts in Start menu and taskbar (no) prior to uninstalling it.

      Now I have that data I’m pondering whether to update the MCT to see if has changed.

    • #2526289

      Maybe there is a difference in Home and Pro

      It’s a good question. Things would be so easy if the shortcut was as shown on your PDF.

      As it is, I’ve looked everywhere… and even restored the original disk image (i.e. before I uninstalled Edge) to check all the default locations once again.

      I even did a search on the reverted image using everything, looking specifically for Microsoft Edge.lnk files:

      edge-lnks-before

      Unfortunately, when I deleted them, only the icon was removed from the Start menu, not the Microsoft Edge entry:

      edge-lnks-after

      (Same with the taskbar… but that was easy to unpin the empty placeholder after the icon had been deleted.)

      So, the Start menu entry hasn’t been implemented as a standard .LNK file.

      Somewhere in Redmond a Microsoftie is laughing at me.

    • #2528849

      Hi landrmc:

      According to Eric-SE’s post today in Why Does Microsoft Edge Shortcut Keep Appearing on My Desktop? in the MS Answers forum, the latest MS Edge v109.0.1518.69 should fix the problem.

      I manually updated MS Egde [More (three dots is top-right corner) | Help and Feedback | About Microsoft Edge] and can confirm that there was no shortcut created on my desktop after the update from v109.0.1518.61 to v109.0.1518.69.
      —————
      Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.2486 * Firefox v109.0.0 * MS Edge v109.0.1518.69 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2211.5-1.1.19900.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.20.230-1.0.1868 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279

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      • #2529404

        Edge Version 109.0.1518.70 (Official build) (64-bit).
        Manually updated.
        No desktop shortcut

      • #2529659

        Update to 109.0.1518.70 and it didn’t create a Desktop icon but it did still create a shortcut in my %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu folder which I had to deleted just like before.

        BTW, this only started happening with this month’s Edge updates, previous versions did not create a new Desktop nor Start Menu icon!

        • #2529678

          Update to 109.0.1518.70 and it didn’t create a Desktop icon but it did still create a shortcut in my %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu folder which I had to deleted just like before.

          I don’t know if you sign in to Windows with a local or Microsoft account, but I recently discovered that my Win 10 OS was configured by default to create a roaming profile that could be used to sync my language preferences and other Windows settings between computers, even though I don’t log in to different Windows devices. If your Windows settings at Settings | Account | Sync Your Settings | Sync Settings is turned ON then the MS support article About Windows Backup and Sync Settings has instructions on how to clear the stored data in your online Microsoft Account after syncing is turned OFF. For further info see my 01-Jan-2023 post # 2513543 in Deo’s Intel Driver & Support Assistant – Not Working After June Updates?, and kudos to Deo for alerting me about this sync setting.

          Win-10-Pro-v22H2-Settings-Account-Sync-Settings-Clear-Data-in-MS-Account-01-Jan-2023

          I would also check your MS Edge Profile settings (More | Settings | Profiles | Sync or enter edge://settings/profiles in the address bar and choose Sync) to see if  Edge is configured to sync data across devices (i.e., to see if you have a roaming profile stored on the Microsoft servers so your MS Edge settings are identical regardless of which device you sign in to from Edge).  See the Softpedia instructions at How to Remove Your Microsoft Edge Data Stored in the Cloud as well as the MS Edge support articles Sign In to Sync Microsoft Edge Across Devices and Reset Microsoft Edge Data in the Cloud.

          MS-Edge-v108-Settings-Profiles-Sync-Reset-Sync-Do-Not-Resume-Sync-After-Reset-07-Jan-2023
          —————-

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          • #2529718

            Local account only (never had a MS account and don’t intend to ever create one) and the sync option isn’t even available in Edge on my system!

            Also, as I indicated in my post, this behavior (creating an Edge shortcut in the Start Menu) never happened during any Edge updates on my system before this month and, since it’s happening for me and I have no MS account or sync, nether of those things has anything to do with why it’s happening.

            It’s obvious MS changed something about how Edge updates itself and it’s becoming extremely annoying because, like many others here, I don’t use Edge as my default browser.

            Reminds me of the same crap they put everyone thru back when they “insisted” you had to use Internet Explorer… until the government took them to court and forced them to back down.

            They keep this BS up and it might be time for another round of United States v. Microsoft Corp.

            • #2529720

              It’s obvious MS changed something about how Edge updates itself and it’s becoming extremely annoying because, like many others here, I don’t use Edge as my default browser.

              Reminds me of the same crap they put everyone thru back when they “insisted” you had to use Internet Explorer… until the government took them to court and forced them to back down.

              They keep this BS up and it might be time for another round of United States v. Microsoft Corp.

              It was acknowledged as a bug five days ago, and fixed three days ago, as revealed earlier in this thread.

            • #2529800

              It was acknowledged as a bug five days ago, and fixed three days ago, as revealed earlier in this thread.

              Yes, but the fix only stopped it from creating the “Desktop” icon. It still creates a Start Menu icon… which it never did before!

    • #2529625

      Edge Version 109.0.1518.70 (Official build) (64-bit).
      Manually updated.
      No desktop shortcut

      OK, I’ve reverted my clean build to the stage when Device Manager has no issues. Let’s see what Windows Update delivers AFTER I uninstall Microsoft Edge with Revo Uninstaller once again.

    • #2529677

      Update to 109.0.1518.70 and it didn’t create a Desktop icon but it did still create a shortcut in my %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu folder which I had to deleted just like before.

      BTW, this only started happening with this month’s Edge updates, previous versions did not create a new Desktop nor Start Menu icon!

      As I’ve mentioned before, I suspect that, somewhere, a Microsoft Edge ‘engineer’ is just laughing his/her socks off at us… ‘cos he/she can.

      It’s just malicious… but apparently amusing to someone in Redmond.

    • #2529689

      Update to 109.0.1518.70 and it didn’t create a Desktop icon but it did still create a shortcut in my %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu folder which I had to deleted just like before.

      I don’t know if you sign in to Windows with a local or Microsoft account, but I recently discovered that my Win 10 OS was configured by default to create a roaming profile that could be used to sync my language preferences and other Windows settings between computers, even though I don’t log in to different Windows devices. If your Windows settings at Settings | Account | Sync Your Settings | Sync Settings is turned ON then the MS support article About Windows Backup and Sync Settings has instructions on how to clear the stored data in your online Microsoft Account after syncing is turned OFF. For further info see my 01-Jan-2023 post # 2513543 in Deo’s Intel Driver & Support Assistant – Not Working After June Updates?, and kudos to Deo for alerting me about this sync setting.

      Win-10-Pro-v22H2-Settings-Account-Sync-Settings-Clear-Data-in-MS-Account-01-Jan-2023

      I would also check your MS Edge Profile settings (More | Settings | Profiles | Sync or enter edge://settings/profiles in the address bar and choose Sync) to see if  Edge is configured to sync data across devices (i.e., to see if you have a roaming profile stored on the Microsoft servers so your MS Edge settings are identical regardless of which device you sign in to from Edge).  See the Softpedia instructions at How to Remove Your Microsoft Edge Data Stored in the Cloud as well as the MS Edge support articles Sign In to Sync Microsoft Edge Across Devices and Reset Microsoft Edge Data in the Cloud.

      MS-Edge-v108-Settings-Profiles-Sync-Reset-Sync-Do-Not-Resume-Sync-After-Reset-07-Jan-2023
      —————-

      Years ago Microsoft exhorted engineers to forego storing app settings in INI files and, instead, use the registry. It was ‘the way to go’ in order to ‘standardise’.

      What hollow words. Now we have to actually open Microsoft Edge in order to change settings instead of using the registry?

      What is going on in Redmond? It’s like the plot has been lost once again.

      • #2529703

        Years ago Microsoft exhorted engineers to forego storing app settings in INI files and, instead, use the registry. It was ‘the way to go’ in order to ‘standardise’.

        What hollow words. Now we have to actually open Microsoft Edge in order to change settings instead of using the registry?

        What is going on in Redmond? It’s like the plot has been lost once again.

        What’s the advantage of editing the registry over a couple of clicks in Edge?

        Where do you suppose the changed Edge settings get stored if not the registry?

    • #2529883

      Update to 109.0.1518.70 and it didn’t create a Desktop icon but it did still create a shortcut in my %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu folder which I had to deleted just like before.

      Hi alejr:

      Is this just an annoyance for you or do you believe this is adding the MS Edge shortcut to the Windows Start menu on your desktop? The How-To Geek article What Is the AppData Folder in Windows? notes that:

      “… The Roaming folder contains data that would “roam” with a user account from computer to computer if your PC was connected to a domain with a roaming profile. This is often used for important settings. For example, Firefox stores its user profiles here, allowing your bookmarks and other browsing data to follow you from PC to PC…”

      I’m not certain, but if your computer isn’t connected to a domain and you aren’t using a roaming profile then I don’t think any data created in that …\AppData\Roaming folder is going to affect what you see on your desktop or Start menu after you log into Windows on your computer. I also use Firefox as my default browser (MS Edge only gets launched on my system if I want to install an important MS Edge security update or need to run a test if my Firefox browser is behaving oddly) and while my C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Roaming folder is full of junk …

      WIn-10-Pro-v22H2-AppData_-Roaming-28-Jan-2023

      … the attached images show that I do not have an MS Edge shortcut in:

      • C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu,
      • C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, or
      • C:\Users\<myusername>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

      I don’t know if that’s because I recently disabled my Windows account and MS Edge syncing on my Win 10 Pro v22H2 computer as I described in my post # 2529678, or if I’m just confused about where this MS Edge shortcut is being created in your …\AppData\Roaming folder.
      ————–
      Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.2486 * Firefox v109.0.0 * MS Edge v109.0.1518.70 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2211.5-1.1.19900.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.20.230-1.0.1868 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7279

      • #2530017

        I’m not certain, but if your computer isn’t connected to a domain and you aren’t using a roaming profile then I don’t think any data created in that …\AppData\Roaming folder is going to affect what you see on your desktop or Start menu after you log into Windows on your computer.

        First thing is, that location is only for the Start Menu not the Desktop!

        Desktop icons are stored in either “C:\ProgramData\Desktop” (Desktop icons for all users) or “%USERPROFILE%\Desktop” (Desktop icons for individual users)

        Second thing is, that link you referenced is completely wrong!

        The “%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu” folder is where individual users Start Menu items are stored and has absolutely nothing to do with whether your profile is set to roam or not; you can verify this by going to the following registry key…

        HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

        …and looking at the value assigned to the Start Menu item which will be

        C:\Users\{YOUR USERNAME}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

        Any items that get placed in this folder, like the new shortcut that Edge update is creating, will always be displayed in that user’s Start Menu whenever they login!

        BTW, the “common” Start Menu location for all users is “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu” which can be verify by going to the following registry key…

        HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

        …and looking at the value assigned to the Common Start Menu item.

        Is this just an annoyance for you or do you believe this is adding the MS Edge shortcut to the Windows Start menu on your desktop?

        Oh, there’s absolutely no doubt! It is adding a shortcut to my Start Menu and, yes, I find it extremely annoying.

    • #2529901

      What’s the advantage of editing the registry over a couple of clicks in Edge?

      Automation and ease of use. I can use a .REG file, PowerShell, CMD, AHK, whatever to make registry changes without once ever opening Edge.

      Where do you suppose the changed Edge settings get stored if not the registry?

      I have no idea as I don’t use Edge nor have any wish to.

      However, to answer your question I opened Edge and put myself through all its nonsense ‘first run’ pages that I had to ‘Confirm and continue’ and ‘Confirm and start browsing’. (What a truly awful experience.) Then I headed over to Settings… (well, what a mess… but that’s by the by and just an opinion so can be discounted).

      As an experiment I made *one* change… I toggled Share browsing data with other Windows features from ON to OFF.

      I was expecting Process Monitor to show a DWORD RegSetValue change from 0 to 1 (or vice versa)… or even a REG_SZ value change from Yes to No.

      Instead, ProcMon showed this:

      edge_change_in_registry

      I don’t believe you know what Edge does behind the scenes any more than I do… and I don’t.

       

      4 users thanked author for this post.
    • #2531332

      Just updated Edge on my system to v109.0.1518.78 and it did not create a new Start Menu shortcut this time.

      Guess MS finally got whatever was causing it to create new Desktop & Start Menu icons completely fixed!

    • #2531647

      Just did deep dive into ‘properties’ of each shortcut created during/post Jan debacle.

      The ones newly created prior to latest Edge ver 109.0.1518.78 had: when r/click on icon, ‘properties’ then ‘details’ tab, showed C:\Users\Public. Original desktop icon had properties date of install (in my case, Jan 2021). Taskbar icon properties details show 2021 install date only, yet updated to new version when opened & update. Properties, when following path r/click from Start Menu icon “open file location, properties, details” showed Jan date. Mess.

      Deleting Jan’s rogue NEW “Public” shortcuts via Admin also deleted them from User even when not signed in. Left me with only desktop EDGE icon, properties showing 2021 install date. Unpinning from Taskbar, (then repinning from Start menu icon) aligns dates of the one orig remaining desktop shortcut, taskbar icon,  start menu icon, with same properties, now with (latest) install date. One path now.

    • #2531726

      If you are awash in shortcuts, Edge and otherwise, delete the shortcuts (.lnk files) and then manually create shortcuts from the .exe files. When programs are uninstalled (or otherwise manipulated), old shortcuts are left in place. Use some caution with this approach.

      On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
      offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
      offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
      online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender
      1 user thanked author for this post.
      Deo
    • #2552160

      Look on the public users desktop and delete em from there – sometimes it is as simple as that – not sure if it will works or not but it takes 60 seconds to do it and a reboot to confirm if it works or not.

      If it does not then maybe, and THIS is scary, MS has them setup on a web-server somewhere and every reboot it hits up the web server and if the shortcuts are missing server scripts re-create them – I had to block a server IP on my last employers network as this is exactly how they were doing it.

      I got tired of Winblows about 4 or 5 months ago. I get enough at work of MS’s B.S. spying telemetry and the whole MS forcing their users to do it their way or not at all to the point when even administrators have issues doing certain tasks in safe mode for the love of god!  I mean having to boot into safe mode to do certain tasks is ridiculous to begin with but, then,  to have to fight the OS once in safe mode is sacrileges as far as I am concerned!

      SO, I came home from work one Friday, boot from a Linux disk, delete all partitions, create Linux ones and install kubuntu. I have never been happier with an OS since I did that.

      The learning curve is only REAL steep if you decide to do everything from the cmd line and I although I admit a lot of Linux tasks can be done from the terminal you don’t HAVE TO DO any of it from the terminal – their is literally a free software package for anything you want to do on a PC available for Linux.

      Not only was I able to find Linux alternatives for ALL of my Winblows software, in a lot of cases it was the same software as  a LOT of Opensource software runs on Winblows, Linux and in most cases FreeBSD and Mac OSX also.

      Give up the spyware/adware called Winblows 10/11/12 and get a non-bloated, non-commercial, non adware/spyware OS today.

       

      PS – I have run Linux off and on for 30 years so it took me 2 -3 months to get used to it again. New users might take a bit longer depending on their technical ability and there willingness to visit the plethora of user help forums for Linux. A quick google search can usually finds the answer to literally ANY Linux problems AND ChatGPT can write bash scripts if you feed it the proper information – I know I’ve written dozens using ChatGPT and it works great!

      Run a dual boot just in case if you think you will need Winblows intermittently – I do, but I haven’t logged into Winblows for 3 months now.

      PPS – Gaming on Linux has advanced to the point where I install steam, all my windows games, enable proton (a check box in the steam client settings), click to run and play the game – I have had very, very, very few issues with certain titles (Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077) that were worked out within a month, by patches and updates to the steam client and the games involved – now everything I want to play runs as well or better than on Winblows (Hogwarts is beautiful and fast on Linux for sure -runs natively with no optional switches for proton – or out of the box as we say when speaking about Windows games running on Linux)

      1 user thanked author for this post.
      • #2552167

        First congrats on always learning, but… I do have to question this statement “hits up the web server and if the shortcuts are missing server scripts re-create them “.

        Microsoft doesn’t do that. Something in your environment may have done that.  Now that said a few months ago they did do an oopsie and had bug in the Edge updating where it did add the shortcut but it was fixed and is no longer a thing.

        But that was not intentional and was not the norm.

        Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

        • #2552300

          You’re right, of course, Susan, but so is JMFTek.

          Thanks to all the preceding posts I was able to control the Microsoft Edge shortcuts that prompted my initial posting.  My newest annoyance though are all of the applets populating the Start menu.  I try to keep a ‘clean’ Start menu by uninstalling items I have no use for, but I swear the little specialized applets keep coming back.  Where are these coming from?  If anyone knows how to permanently block these buggers, I’d appreciate hearing how.

          This is an example of why I agree with JMFTek.  I use Microsoft software solely because my employer requires it.  Thus, it is a tool set that I use to earn a living.  But Microsoft keeps screwing around with my toolbox, changing/moving tools around or adding tools I don’t want or need, all of which are making it harder to do my job.  To get a sense of what the future holds in this respect, I bought a Windows 11 laptop.  It appears that in addition to “change for change sake”, Windows 11 users are going to be inundated with advertisements for which there will be no opt-outs.  Thank you, Satya Nadella.

          Fortunately I am nearing retirement, so I’m taking JMFTek’s suggestion to setup a dual boot machine and start learning Linux.  Hopefully, the last time I logoff from my employer will also be the last time I logoff from anything Microsoft.

      • #2552515

        I mean having to boot into safe mode to do certain tasks is ridiculous to begin with but, then, to have to fight the OS once in safe mode is sacrileges as far as I am concerned!

        Which tasks require safe mode?

    • #2552306

      the little specialized applets keep coming back. Where are these coming from? If anyone knows how to permanently block these, I’d appreciate hearing how

      It would perhaps help to mention exactly which specialized applets keep coming back. The reason is… Microsoft doesn’t treat its apps equitably (Edge is a good example of non-standard treatment) so it’s helpful to know exactly which apps are causing problems.

      Also, perhaps mention whether you are using a Home or Pro edition of Windows 10 21H2.

    • #2552353

      Edition is Windows 10 Pro 21H2.

      Examples of specialized applets ‘back from the dead’ are Camera, Clock, Cortana, Maps, Phone (back as Phone Link).

      Thanks.

    • #2552392

      Edition is Windows 10 Pro 21H2.

      Examples of specialized applets ‘back from the dead’ are Camera, Clock, Cortana, Maps, Phone (back as Phone Link).

      Thanks.

      Block Microsoft store updates.

    • #2552430

      Block Microsoft store updates.

      Why would that help… and how (for benefit of OP and others)?

    • #2552431

      Examples of specialized applets

      You’ll note that I wrote ‘exactly’. You replied with ‘examples’.

      IMO there’s a disconnect in my understanding… so I’m going to unsubscribe.

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