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Introduction
EFSC computers that have been upgraded to Windows 11 will now have a Helpful Info folder found conveniently on the desktop. Currently, this is available on office computers for staff and faculty. The Helpful Info folder contains shortcuts to frequently used applications like Banner, OnBase, Microsoft 365 programs like Word, and How To articles.
After being upgraded to Windows 11, you may not see one of these items on your desktop right away. However, these will always be available by opening the Helpful Info folder and locating the shortcut.
The steps provided in the next section will demonstrate how to create a desktop shortcut to one of these items from the Helpful Info folder. This article will focus on an easy drag and drop method. For more methods on creating shortcuts to other items such as network folders, website URLs and more, please visit the Creating Shortcuts in Windows 11 article. Further information about Windows 11 can found in the Introduction to Windows 11 Features article.
How to Create a Shortcut from the Helpful Info Folder
After following these steps, you will have created a desktop shortcut to an item from the Helpful Info folder. This will be completed by simply dragging the icon from the Helpful Info folder and placing it on the desktop. In the steps below, we will be creating a shortcut to Microsoft Word as an example.
1. First, locate the Helpful_Info folder that is accessible on your desktop (the icon image may appear differently than the image below). This shortcut has already been automatically placed for Windows 11 computers. Double click the icon to open it.
2. Then, if needed, navigate to the exact folder with the item you are looking to create a desktop shortcut to. This could be for any items, including Banner, OnBase, frequently accessed Microsoft 365 programs, and links in the How To subfolder. In this example, we will first open the Office 365 folder.
3. Find the exact item you would like to create a shortcut to. In this example, we will create a shortcut to Word.
4. Then, left click (hold) and drag that item from that folder to an empty space on your desktop. Once you find a spot to place the shortcut on the desktop, release the left click and the shortcut will be created.
Notes:
- You may need to adjust the window you are creating a shortcut from so you can see both that and the desktop (not maximized).
- Before releasing the left click, near the item's icon you will see where it says "Copy to Desktop". Dragging the item from the network folder should not move it (ex. cut and paste) out of that folder. You should still see the item in both the folder and the desktop.
5. You will now have a desktop shortcut that will open the item you moved from the network folder to the desktop. Double clicking the icon will open it.
IT Support
If you are experiencing any technical issues with creating shortcuts, please contact EFSC Information Technology. For assistance, questions or concerns, please either create a ticket or call the IT Support Desk at 321-433-7600, open 7am to midnight, 7 days a week. As a reminder, you can locate this contact information by logging into myEFSC and scrolling to the IT Support section.
When creating a ticket, select the Desktop, Laptop & Printer Support category, followed by the Desktop Support service to submit a ticket. Include details, error messages, and provide screenshots if possible of the steps you have taken so we may further assist you.
