Also, "shortcuts" are just that; a shortcut is your menu listing or one-click icon to the program where it was installed. A program icon would be linked directly to the program itself. Typically, Desktop icons are shortcuts (.lnk), which means you can make a new shortcut any time, and even put them in various access points, for convenience. They don't involve reinstalling the program. When you get an IT person helping, ask them to give you an overview of working with shortcuts, making them, renaming them, managing your computer using them. That helps avoid overreacting to these things.