Overview

The System5 on Cloud environment creates the default desktop shortcuts from a group policy that runs a PowerShell script triggered by user logon. These shortcuts cannot be modified nor deleted and will be recreated when the user signs back in. The group policy is global therefore all users will have the same set of default shortcuts. Customers in the N.A. datacenter currently has 4 default shortcuts, and 2 default shortcuts (no payroll) in the A.U. datacenter.

NOTE: Windward Payroll has been discontinued in 2025 so the payroll shortcuts in the N.A. datacenter may be removed in the future.

Solution #1 - Disable Tablet mode

Enabling Tablet mode will remove all of the shortcuts, files and folders on the desktop.

Solution #2 - Enable the "Show desktop icons" option

Unticking this option will remove the shortcuts on the desktop.

Solution #3 - Sign out of the RDP session and sign back in

If the shortcuts have been manually deleted, signing out and signing back in will trigger the script to run and will re-create the default desktop shortcuts.

Escalate to Cloud Ops if none of the solutions above are working