diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e601938..3269894 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -81,11 +81,18 @@ the software, if needed. Now proceed to the next section.
 ## 3 Usage
 
 On Windows, there are two ways of using the M269 notebooks, either from a terminal
-or by creating a desktop shortcut. On Unix, use a terminal.
+or by double clicking a desktop shortcut. On Unix, use a terminal.
 
 ### 3.1 Desktop shortcut (Windows only)
 
-The `start.ps1` script and these instructions are originally by M269 tutor Bob Moore.
+The installation process creates a shortcut on your desktop named `M269-start`.
+If you double click this shortcut, a PowerShell window opens where Jupyter writes its log messages,
+then your browser opens the Jupyter dashboard, listing the contents of your M269 folder.
+If there’s a message about migrating to Notebook 7, click "don’t show anymore".
+You can now continue reading Section 1.3 of the book to learn how to use Jupyter.
+
+**Note for tutors:** You can create additional shortcuts, each opening Jupyter in
+a different start folder, e.g. the eTMA marking folder, by following these instructions:
 
 1. Right click on the desktop. Select 'new shortcut'. Type `powershell`.
    Hit 'Next' and then 'Finish': 'powershell' gets automatically expanded to the full name of the program.
@@ -93,22 +100,15 @@ The `start.ps1` script and these instructions are originally by M269 tutor Bob M
 2. Right click on the new desktop icon and select 'Properties' to update the shortcut:
 
    1. Modify the start-up folder to be your M269 folder.
-   2. Append `-file start.ps1` to the target field. It should now read:
-      `C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -file start.ps1`.
+   2. Append `-file start.ps1 path/to/folder` to the target field
+      (if the path includes spaces, you must enclose it in quotes). It should now read:
+      `C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -file start.ps1 path/to/folder`.
    3. Optionally you can update the icon for the shortcut. To get a Jupyter icon
       instead of a PowerShell icon you can use
-      `%USERPROFILE%\venvs\m269-23j\Lib\site-packages\nbclassic\static\base\images\favicon.ico`.
-
-You should now be able to double click on the desktop shortcut to start Jupyter
-in your M269 folder. First, a PowerShell window opens where Jupyter writes its log messages,
-then your browser should open the Jupyter dashboard, listing the contents of your M269 folder.
-If there’s a message about migrating to Notebook 7, click "don’t show anymore".
-You can now continue reading Section 1.3 of the book to learn how to use Jupyter.
+      `%USERPROFILE%\venvs\m269-24j\Lib\site-packages\nbclassic\static\base\images\favicon.ico`.
 
-**Note for tutors:** You can create multiple shortcuts, each opening Jupyter in
-a different start folder, e.g. the eTMA marking folder. Follow the same steps
-as above for each shortcut, but in step 2.2, append also the intended start folder:
-`-file start.ps1 path/to/folder`. If the path includes spaces, you must enclose it in quotes.
+We thank M269 tutor Bob Moore for creating the original version of `start.ps1`
+and of these shortcut instructions.
 
 ### 3.2 Terminal (Windows and Unix)
 
diff --git a/install.ps1 b/install.ps1
index a821624..839b463 100644
--- a/install.ps1
+++ b/install.ps1
@@ -118,5 +118,23 @@ if (-not (Test-Path -Path $CONFIG_FILE)) {
 }
 Add-Content -Path $CONFIG_FILE -Value $ALIASES -NoNewline
 
+Write-Host "Adding desktop shortcut..."
+
+$Desktop = [System.Environment]::GetFolderPath('Desktop')
+$ShortcutPath = Join-Path $Desktop "M269-start.lnk"
+$TargetPath = "$FOLDER\start.ps1"
+
+$WScriptShell = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell
+$Shortcut = $WScriptShell.CreateShortcut($ShortcutPath)
+$Shortcut.TargetPath = "powershell.exe"
+$Shortcut.Arguments = "-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File `"$TargetPath`""
+$Shortcut.Description = "Start the M269 software"
+
+# set the icon for the shortcut (using the powershell icon)
+$PowerShellExe = (Get-Command powershell.exe).Source
+$Shortcut.IconLocation = "$PowerShellExe, 0"
+
+$Shortcut.Save()
+
 Write-Host "Software has been installed."
 Write-Host "All done. Go to $SITE for further instructions."