Why does a shortcut error appear during the startup of Windows?

Why does a shortcut error appear during the startup of Windows?
or
A shortcut error of a program appears at the startup of Windows. But clicking the [OK] or [Cancel] button starts Windows normally. Why?
* This symptom tends to occur right after the installation of an application or a driver of a peripheral, or the change of settings.

Error messages are as below:

- For Windows 9*
"The item 'red.bmp' that this shortcut refers to has been changed or moved. The nearest match, based on size, date and type, is C:\WINDOWS\1STBOOT.BMP'. Do you want this shortcut to point to this item?"

- For Windows Me
"The shortcut 'Shortcut to test.bmp.Ink' refers to a location that is unavailable. The location could be on a hard drive on this computer, on a network, or a different computer on your home network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted, or that you are connected to the Internet or home network, and then try again."

- For Windows 2000
"The drive or network connection that the short cut 'Shortcut to blue.lnk' refers to is unavailable. Make sure that the disk is properly inserted or the network resource is available, and then try again."

Windows boots and displays files stored in the [Start Up] folder, and registers programs and files as memory resident programs during its startup time. The shortcut error occurs if those programs and files do not exist or have some problems.

Note:
Performing the following to resolve the symptom may adversely affect the normal operation of some programs. If it occurs, please contact the vendor of the program affected or perform recovery.

--Procedure--
(For Windows 9* and Windows Me)
- Delete the shortcut icons of the memory-resident programs that caused the shortcut error from the items in the [Start Up].

- Clear the check boxes of the memory-resident programs that caused the shortcut error in the [Start Up] tab of the [System Configuration Utility] window.

(For Windows 2000)
- Delete the shortcut icons of the memory-resident programs that caused the shortcut error from the items in the [Start Up].

Please refer to the following solution for the procedure to terminate or suspend resident applications on Windows 2000.
Title: How do I terminate or suspend resident applications on Windows 2000?
Keywords: stop,TSR,programs
Article ID: 5439