I asked [this question][1] some time back - I was hunting for where *metro* apps were stored, and that was a useful starting point. I was entirely aware, and indicated in the question and the comments two possible places where non metro start menu shortcuts were placed.

Someone's placed a bounty for answering where *desktop* shortcuts are placed. Its a bit tricky - since it obviously has nothing to do about the original question, and could/should have been asked as a separate question in my opinion. 

What's do we do in such cases?

  [1]: https://superuser.com/questions/491325/where-exactly-are-shortcuts-to-the-windows-modern-ui-apps-stored-in-windows-8?noredirect=1#comment707661_491325