microsoft / microsoft/vscode

Portable VS Code modifies or replaces Windows shortcuts

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#326,347 2 comments 0 reactions 2 assignees Claimed by @dmitrivMS View on GitHub
portable-mode windows workbench-os-integration
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Description

Does this issue occur when all extensions are disabled?: Yes

* VS Code Version: VSCode-win32-x64-1.129.0
* OS Version: Windows 11
* Installation type: Windows ZIP
* Regular installed VS Code also present: Yes

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Install the regular Windows version of VS Code.
2. Download and extract the Windows ZIP version of VS Code to another folder.
3. Create a `data` folder next to `Code.exe` to enable portable mode.
4. Start the portable version by running its `Code.exe`.
5. Open the Windows Start menu and launch VS Code from the existing VS Code entry.

Expected behavior:

Starting the portable version should not modify the Start menu entry belonging to the normally installed version.

The existing Start menu shortcut should continue to point to the regular installed copy of VS Code. The portable copy should remain self-contained inside its extracted folder and should not modify the host system configuration.

Actual behavior:

After starting the portable `Code.exe`, the existing VS Code entry in the Windows Start menu is overwritten or changed so that it opens the portable copy instead of the normally installed version.

This behavior defeats the purpose of portable mode. A portable application should remain self-contained and non-invasive. It should not overwrite Start menu shortcuts, replace the default installed application, or modify the system setup without explicit user permission.

Portable mode is enabled simply by extracting the ZIP archive and adding a `data` folder next to `Code.exe`. Running that portable executable should not interfere with a separate installed copy of VS Code.

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