Original report: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nautilus/+bug/984356

If you have a symlink to a disk that is not auto-mounted, then clicking on it gives an error message like "The Link "My Pictures" is Broken. Move it to the Rubbish Bin? This link cannot be used, because its target "/media/Acer/Users/Steven/Pictures/My Pictures" doesn't exist."

For a beginner this message is startling, and suggesting that it should be deleted worrying, and not particularly helpful.

The best option from a usability point of view would be to mount the disk, but I bet that's hard to do.

Second best, do not offer to delete it, and say something along the lines of "The file or directory that "My Pictures" links to (/media/Acer/Users/Steven/Pictures/My Pictures) is not currently available. You should check that the disk is mounted."