Original HowCurio example, free to use/adapt.
shortcut-source-example.txt: Friday at 18:30.
shortcut-independent-copy.txt: Saturday at 17:00.
A native Windows WScript.Shell trial created a shortcut, copied the shortcut, and read back its target. Both shortcut records targeted the original. Editing the independent real file copy left the original SHA-256 unchanged. Deleting only the private copied shortcut left the original present. No .lnk is offered for download. This is COM file creation/readback, not an Explorer double-click or USB/network trial.