Shortcut keys for shortcuts?

[mark]

I have a few applications on my PC that don't need to be installed, so they
are not in the start menu. When I right click these application .exe files
they do not allow me to specify a shortcut key, therefore as a workaround I
figured I could create a shortcut for the program and then assign a shortcut
key to that shortcut.

The problem I'm finding is that it just doesn't work unless the shortcut is
on the desktop. example:

My Program is located "C:\Program Files\My Programm\" I right click the .exe
file and choose "create shortcut", I then right click the shortcut and
assign it a shortcut key.

When I try to execute the shortcut (ctrl+alt+X) it just doesn't work at all.
By contrast if I create a shortcut to the same program on my desktop and
assign that shortcut a shortcut key it works perfect. I just don't want my
dekstop filled with lots of shortcut icons.

I'm running XP Home SP1? any ideas?

 

[Stan Brown]

The problem I'm finding is that it just doesn't work unless the shortcut is
on the desktop.

The shortcuts need to be on the desktop _or_ in a start menu.