Note: This also works on non-programs (files, folders, websites, etc.)
- Open the start menu and type 'run'
- In the run app, type "shell:programs" and hit OK. This will open up the start menu programs folder (mine was at \Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
- Create a shortcut to the exe file
- right click on the program/file and choose send to desktop (create shortcut) - Drag the new shortcut into the programs folder that just opened up