Creating a shortcut on all users, including existing users, desktop server2008

You can use Group Policy.
Once you choose edit from the desired policy go to:

Configuration\Preferences\Windows Settings\ node. Right click the Shortcuts node to create and distribute a new shortcut.

I was hoping for an easier way.  But, if i do the Group Policy, i'm not following where you want me to put it.  After i open the policy what section am i looking under ( i.e Computer or User, Software, windows , admin etc...

Sorry for the truncated description.
User configuration
Preferences
Windows settings
right click shortcut choose new and create the desired shorcut.

If you are not familliar with GP, you could place the icons in the:
"C:\users\all users\desktop" folder
You will need to change your folder options in the control panel to view system files before you will see "all user" folder.

After further reasearch that is the same as the public\desktop, so you have already tried that.
Have you logged in as one of the users to see if it showed up after you placed the icon there?

I've tried several items in the public\public desktop folder and tried different users.  No luck.

Have you set the permissions on the shortcut?
Make sure is has everyone or users or what ever group is applicable have rights to the shortcut.

I set the permissions on the publc\public desktop folder and the actual shortcut itself to authenticated users, read, write - still nothing.

Partial Solution