For curiosity, I just did a brief test.

I plugged in a USB flash drive and created a desktop shortcut to an EXE file on it. I did a Safely Remove of the USB drive and restarted the PC. After logging back in, the new shortcut is still there. Double-clicking on it brings up an error message that the drive or network is unavailable, and to connect it and try again.

So, everything worked as it should and the icon persisted.

Windows 7 64 here, in case that matters (but I don't think it does).


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.