Can't delete a shortcut from my desktop

I have an old shortcut that I can't delete from my desktop. When I try to delete it, I get an error message that says "the file name you specified is invalid or too long." If I try to shorten the file name I get the same message.

Is there a "force delete" command I can use?

THANK YOU!

 

Try opening up a command prompt and deleting it from there.

 

Thanks brooks for your help. Everything was working as you said it would until I got a message (inside the command window) that said I did not have proper access to the file (shortcut) to delete it. I have no idea how that happended?

Any further help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

David

 

Are you running NTFS on Windows NT, 2000 or XP, if so right click on the shortcut and open up the properties check that it is not set to read only, and check the security permissions to see that everyone has full permission.

 

You're a genious! The file was "read only." Once I unchecked that box in the properties window, I was able to delete the file.

Thanks again!