Desktop folder shortcut won't open

Does: "I pushed a shortcut to a folder..." mean that you created a shortcut and tried to copy it to the desktop using GPO?

Have you considered creating the shortcut with VBS on all computers instead of copying?

Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
strDesktop = objShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop")

ShortcutFile = strDesktop & "\<shortcut name>.lnk"

With objShell.CreateShortcut(ShortcutFile)
   .TargetPath = "\\<server>\<folder>"
   .WorkingDirectory = "."
   .Save
End With

Select allOpen in new window

Adjust the .TargetPath according to the location you want to open.

I pushed the shortcut through Group Policy Management Editor - Create a shortcut under shortcuts - under user configuration.   I have pushed several shortcuts this way.  However I did notice if I right click on the icon in the target type thinks it is a file not a file folder - this is a folder.

magarner--This should help determine whether the issue is permission or not.
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/windows-7-access-denied-permission-ownership/

"if I right click on the icon in the target type thinks it is a file not a file folder "
If Windows Explorer thinks it is a file, it probably is a file.  Was there any indication of "Type of File" on the Properties screen?  If so, what File Extension was shown?  
I understand the Target info did not indicate it was a "File Folder".

Can you use shortcut preferences? (are you running server 2008 or newer?)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753580.aspx

If you have XP workstations then you will need to install the extensions:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3628

I am running 2008 server and am using shortcut preferences.  I can tell you it is a folder not a file I manually mapped it on her system and it worked fine.  The GP creates a folder shortcut on my desktop but other users is creates a link that says file.  Since i was able to create a shortcut manually that should rule out permissions.  The type of file screen - just shows the name of the folder as the file name.  

Also found out if you right click and select open containing folder it takes you to the parent folder and you can click on the folder name and access things fine.

Is there a possibility that there is a file in the parent folder with the same name as the shortcut folder?  

Try putting a closing slash "\" on the link.

I checked and there is not a file in the folder with the same name the folder name is "1- GM 2013 Print Files"  - not that the name matters.  I tried it with the closing slash no change.  

Now I have new information the user just informed me that when she tries to open photoshop files that are located in the folder - photoshop open but the image does not display.  If we copy that image to the local machine and open it with photoshop it opens fine.

Starting to think we are back to a permissions issue - this user has full control on the folder and all sub folders.

Here is the latest information hopefully this will help someone help me understand what is going on.  I added this user to the administrators group - after a reboot the shortcut is now a valid shortcut on the desktop.  If I remove the user from the admin group and reboot it thinks the shortcut is a file.  The user has full access to the folder.

It sounds like it is dropping the ".lnk" extension for non-admins.

All other shortcuts work for all other users to all other locations.

No objection.  Just a note that the share permissions do take precendence over the NTFS permissions.  I should have thought about that since it has bitten me more than once.

Solved the problem myself.