diff --git a/crates/rattler_menuinst/Cargo.toml b/crates/rattler_menuinst/Cargo.toml
index a355cc193..240af876f 100644
--- a/crates/rattler_menuinst/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/rattler_menuinst/Cargo.toml
@@ -30,8 +30,14 @@ shell-words = "1.1.0"
 known-folders = "1.2.0"
 
 [target.'cfg(target_os = "windows")'.dependencies]
-winapi = "0.3.9"
 winreg = "0.52.0"
+windows = { version = "0.58", features = [
+    "Win32_System_Com",
+    "Win32_UI_Shell",
+    "Win32_UI_Shell_PropertiesSystem",
+    "Win32_Foundation",
+    "Win32_System_Com_StructuredStorage",
+] }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 insta = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/rattler_menuinst/src/windows.rs b/crates/rattler_menuinst/src/windows.rs
index b8829cb17..8d2313bb9 100644
--- a/crates/rattler_menuinst/src/windows.rs
+++ b/crates/rattler_menuinst/src/windows.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
+use crate::{schema, MenuInstError, MenuMode};
+use fs_err as fs;
 mod knownfolders;
 mod registry;
+mod create_shortcut;
 
 struct Directories {
     start_menu_location: PathBuf,
-    quick_launch_location: PathBuf,
-    desktop_location: PathBuf,
+    quick_launch_location: Option<PathBuf>,
+    desktop_location: Option<PathBuf>,
 }
 
 impl Directories {
@@ -15,11 +18,9 @@ impl Directories {
             known_folders::get_known_folder_path(known_folders::KnownFolder::StartMenu)
                 .expect("Failed to get start menu location");
         let quick_launch_location =
-            known_folders::get_known_folder_path(known_folders::KnownFolder::QuickLaunch)
-                .expect("Failed to get quick launch location");
+            known_folders::get_known_folder_path(known_folders::KnownFolder::QuickLaunch);
         let desktop_location =
-            known_folders::get_known_folder_path(known_folders::KnownFolder::Desktop)
-                .expect("Failed to get desktop location");
+            known_folders::get_known_folder_path(known_folders::KnownFolder::Desktop);
 
         Directories {
             start_menu_location,
@@ -30,8 +31,54 @@ impl Directories {
 }
 
 pub struct WindowsMenu {
-    name: String,
-    mode: String,
+    directories: Directories,
+    item: schema::Windows,
+    mode: MenuMode,
     prefix: PathBuf,
-    base_prefix: PathBuf,
 }
+
+impl WindowsMenu {
+    pub fn new(item: schema::Windows, prefix: &Path, mode: MenuMode) -> WindowsMenu {
+        let directories = Directories::create();
+
+        WindowsMenu {
+            directories,
+            item,
+            mode,
+            prefix: prefix.to_path_buf(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn create(&self) -> Result<PathBuf, MenuInstError> {
+        tracing::debug!("Creating {:?}", self.directories.start_menu_location);
+        fs::create_dir_all(&self.directories.start_menu_location)?;
+
+        if let Some(ref quick_launch_location) = self.directories.quick_launch_location {
+            fs::create_dir_all(quick_launch_location)?;
+        }
+
+        if let Some(ref desktop_location) = self.directories.desktop_location {
+            fs::create_dir_all(desktop_location)?;
+        }
+
+        Ok(self.directories.start_menu_location.clone())
+    }
+
+    pub fn remove(&self) -> Result<PathBuf, MenuInstError> {
+        let menu_location = &self.directories.start_menu_location;
+        if menu_location.exists() {
+            if menu_location.read_dir()?.next().is_none() {
+                tracing::info!("Removing {menu_location:?}", );
+                fs::remove_dir_all(menu_location)?;
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(self.directories.start_menu_location.clone())
+    }
+}
+
+struct WindowsMenuItem {
+    item: schema::Windows,
+    prefix: PathBuf,
+}
+
+
diff --git a/crates/rattler_menuinst/src/windows/create_shortcut.rs b/crates/rattler_menuinst/src/windows/create_shortcut.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f63e68e67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/rattler_menuinst/src/windows/create_shortcut.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+use std::path::Path;
+use windows::{
+    core::*,
+    Win32::System::Com::*,
+    Win32::System::Com::StructuredStorage::*,
+    Win32::UI::Shell::*,
+    Win32::UI::Shell::PropertiesSystem::*,
+};
+
+#[derive(thiserror::Error, Debug)]
+enum CreateShortcutFail {
+    #[error("Failed to create shortcut: {0}")]
+    WindowsError(#[from] windows::core::Error),
+
+    #[error("Failed to initialize COM")]
+    CoInitializeFail,
+}
+
+/// Create a shortcut at the specified path.
+pub(crate) fn create_shortcut(
+    path: &Path,
+    description: &str,
+    filename: &Path,
+    arguments: Option<&str>,
+    workdir: Option<&Path>,
+    iconpath: Option<&Path>,
+    iconindex: i32,
+    app_id: Option<&str>,
+) -> std::result::Result<(), CreateShortcutFail> {
+    unsafe {
+        if !CoInitialize(None).is_ok() {
+            return Err(CreateShortcutFail::CoInitializeFail);
+        }
+
+        let shell_link: IShellLinkW = CoCreateInstance(&ShellLink, None, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER)?;
+        let persist_file: IPersistFile = shell_link.cast()?;
+
+        shell_link.SetPath(&HSTRING::from(path))?;
+        shell_link.SetDescription(&HSTRING::from(description))?;
+
+        if let Some(args) = arguments {
+            shell_link.SetArguments(&HSTRING::from(args))?;
+        }
+
+        if let Some(icon) = iconpath {
+            shell_link.SetIconLocation(&HSTRING::from(icon), iconindex)?;
+        }
+
+        if let Some(dir) = workdir {
+            shell_link.SetWorkingDirectory(&HSTRING::from(dir))?;
+        }
+
+        if let Some(id) = app_id {
+            let property_store: IPropertyStore = shell_link.cast()?;
+            let mut prop_variant = PROPVARIANT::default();
+            // PropVariantInit(&mut prop_variant);
+            // SetPropStringValue(PCWSTR(PWSTR::from_raw(to_wide_string(id).as_mut_ptr())), &mut prop_variant)?;
+            // property_store.SetValue(&PROPERTYKEY_AppUserModel_ID, &prop_variant)?;
+            property_store.Commit()?;
+            PropVariantClear(&mut prop_variant)?;
+        }
+
+        persist_file.Save(&HSTRING::from(filename), true)?;
+
+        CoUninitialize();
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file