How to find the Target *.exe file of *.appref-ms
applicationreference, clickonce, shortcut
Solution
Simple answer to this; I was trying to figure out the same thing, and it just hit me.
GitHub IS a program installed on your computer, and when it runs, it WILL use threads and RAM. So that makes it a process. All you have to do is open Task Manager, click the Processes tab, find 'Github.exe', right click, Open File Location. Voila! Mine is under the folder `%LocalAppData%\Apps`, about 4 layers deep.
Problem
I have to make a backup of the program running from the file *.appref-ms When I opened the file GitHub.appref-ms using a text editor I found http://github-windows.s3.amazonaws.com/GitHub.application#GitHub.application, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=8f45a2159c87c850, processorArchitecture=x86 Where is the target stored on the local disk? Editing the PublicKeyToken resulted in Default or Null Icon. Editing the URL resulted in "Application Cannot Start". How is *.appref-ms targeting the Exe? This doesn't answer my Question Note: I tried opening the file offline, it still works perfectly.