This problem started coming up since my last windows 10 update affecting only my starwars gold pack shortcut game launcher on desktop. or I blame it on that anyway.

The item 'sweaw.exe' that's this shortcut refers to has been moved or changed. so this shortcut will no longer work proprerly.

well... no kidding. I'm lost whats going on? ive just reinstalled whole game last night.

norton (for me) recently flagged this as heuristic malware. it's totally safe. check your av and change settings as needed. same for expansion

edit - windows 10. you should have defender. search for it using the search bar. i think you should be able to add to exceptions list.

This may sound silly but did you go looking to see if sweaw.exe is still there?

you reinstalled the game and your still getting this issue?

it's more then a probability that Windows 10 has lost it's mapping ability
Try the steps listed in this link
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2669244/-windows-cannot-access-the-specified-device--path--or-file-error-when

yes I turned Norton off until installed, then turned it back on.

I think sweaw.exe is missing because I cant find find that wording anywhere, drmike mentioned it so I went looking.
and I tried 3 of your options listed none worked.

when I click on shortcut then properties an then anything I click after that gives me an error msg saying The name 'H:/Star Wars - Empire At War Gold/GameData/sweaw.exe' specified in the target box is not valid. make sure the path and file name are correct. windows defender is turned off due to having Norton

check your Virus protection "chest" and see if the Exe is in there. if it is restore it then create an exception so that it doesn't happen again

wow Norton is so overboard, that was the issue. I went into my scan history an see foc an "sweaw.exe" Quarantined! took me a little bit figuring out how to restore it but finally got it. many thanks!! id give you a hug if I could lol

no worries, glad we could help, have fun playing