Adding shortcut icons to your desktop makes any file, program or URL accessible with a quick double-click. There are several ways to create a desktop icon, but a few are universally usable, regardless of content type. Windows 7 allows you to create a shortcut directly on the desktop with its "Create Shortcut" dialog window, or you can use a familiar copy-and-paste method.
Right-click an empty area of the Windows 7 desktop. Point to "New" and click "Shortcut" to open the "Create Shortcut" window.
Click "Browse" to open a navigational window. Click any file, folder or program, and click "OK" to select it as the shortcut's target. Alternatively, type a URL into the field, if you wish to create a shortcut to a website.
Enter a name for the shortcut and click "Finish" to put an icon on the desktop.
Locate the item to which you wish to create a desktop shortcut. This can be a file or folder in Windows Explorer, a browser Favorite or Bookmark, or a Start Menu shortcut.
Right-click the item, and select "Copy" from the pop-up menu.
Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select "Paste shortcut." If you cannot see the desktop, hold the "Windows" key and press "M" to minimize all windows.
Press "F2," type a new name for the shortcut and press "Enter" to rename it.