Michael Posted February 16, 2016 Author Posted February 16, 2016 Another recommendation I can offer - When installing Classic Shell and then launching IE, it will typically prompt the end user to enable/disable add-ons. Other applications that do this are Skype and Smart Notebook for example. If you enable: User Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer - Do not allow users to enable or disable add-ons - Enabled This'll remove/hide any prompts for any add-on 1
techie08 Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 Ive managed to get the shell startmenu mostly working but how do i remove the Start Menu (Windows) icon at the top and list the Start Menu programs in the left hand side, not just in the All programs folder? Also is there a setting to remove PC settings? See Picture.
Michael Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 With regards to PC Settings, you have two methods, but I'd suggest you do both - User Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Control Panel - Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC Settings - Enabled If you look within Classic Shell settings, Customize Start Menu (tab), half way down you can choose to not display PC Settings. If you then look in the registry (search for MenuItems7) to export/copy the info to import using a GPP regedit. To remove the Windows Start shortcut, User Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Classic Shell > Classic Start Menu - Show Start screen shortcut, Enabled, Locked to this value with Show Start screen shortcut unticked. Hope this helps!
Michael Posted February 17, 2016 Author Posted February 17, 2016 For 'Programs' I take it you're running Classic Shell in 'two columns mode'? You can remove it on the same Customize Start Menu tab, then import using a GPP regedit as above.
techie08 Posted February 17, 2016 Posted February 17, 2016 For 'Programs' I take it you're running Classic Shell in 'two columns mode'? You can remove it on the same Customize Start Menu tab, then import using a GPP regedit as above. Yes So what would be the best way to do the startmenu shortcuts? currently for windows 7 startmenus, i have a folder in the C: drive call startmenu and i use folder redirection to point to this.
Michael Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 Yes So what would be the best way to do the startmenu shortcuts? currently for windows 7 startmenus, i have a folder in the C: drive call startmenu and i use folder redirection to point to this. If you're referring to 'Programs' this does support Folder Redirection and is something I proactively manage. If you're talking about frequently used or Pinned items on the Start Menu, you can do this via GPP Files. If you look at my latest download here you can see how Pinned applications can be performed for all users.
ITGURU Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 I have installed classic shell and configured some gpo options. I have set control panel, printers and pc settings to enabled, lock to this setting but leaving the tick box unchecked. However when I log on I still get the menu items as shown below. Can anyone help? Thanks
timbo343 Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 I have installed classic shell and configured some gpo options. I have set control panel, printers and pc settings to enabled, lock to this setting but leaving the tick box unchecked. However when I log on I still get the menu items as shown below. Can anyone help? Thanks [ATTACH=CONFIG]35234[/ATTACH] You need to configure the following: HKCU\Software\IvoSoft\ClassicStartMenu\Settings and look for MenuItems7 In here you need to edit each item.
Michael Posted February 24, 2016 Author Posted February 24, 2016 Some GPOs only allow control of the Ultra Classic Start menu and not Classic Shell in Windows 7 mode. For this you need to use a GPP regedit.
ITGURU Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 You need to configure the following: HKCU\Software\IvoSoft\ClassicStartMenu\Settings and look for MenuItems7 In here you need to edit each item. Thanks - so the purpose of the gpo entries are.......?
timbo343 Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) Thanks - so the purpose of the gpo entries are.......? I thought you would ask... here you go Located at User Config >> Policies >> Admin Templates >> Classic Shell Item1.Command=user_files Item1.Settings=NOEXPAND Item2.Command=user_documents Item2.Settings=NOEXPAND Item3.Command=user_pictures Item3.Settings=NOEXPAND Item4.Command=user_music Item4.Settings=NOEXPAND Item5.Command=user_videos Item5.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item6.Command=downloads Item6.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item7.Command=homegroup Item7.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item8.Command=separator Item9.Command=games Item9.Settings=TRACK_RECENT|NOEXPAND|ITEM_DISABLED Item10.Command=favorites Item10.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item11.Command=recent_documents Item11.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item12.Command=computer Item12.Settings=NOEXPAND Item13.Command=network Item13.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item14.Command=network_connections Item14.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item15.Command=separator Item16.Command=control_panel Item16.Settings=TRACK_RECENT|ITEM_DISABLED Item17.Command=pc_settings Item17.Settings=TRACK_RECENTITEM_DISABLED Item18.Command=admin Item18.Settings=TRACK_RECENT|ITEM_DISABLED Item19.Command=devices Item19.Settings=NOEXPAND Item20.Command=defaults Item20.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item21.Command=help Item21.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item22.Command=run Item22.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item23.Command=apps Item23.Settings=ITEM_DISABLED Item24.Command=windows_security Edited February 24, 2016 by timbo343
ITGURU Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 I thought you would ask... here you go Big thumbs up ! Works a treat! Cheers
3s-gtech Posted March 4, 2016 Posted March 4, 2016 It looks like I'm going to be another convert. I had my Windows 10 Start Menu XML working fine on a test VM, but as soon as I tried it on another machine, no dice. Machines in same OU, same build of OS, etc. Pretty fed up by this point. Impressed with Classic Shell so far, ADMXs and all. Folder redirection broke on the test machine (as it loves doing on Windows) needing the .reg file fix which threw me off a bit, thinking CS was at fault. As it is, it'll be easier for most staff to use. Got the Windows 10 style right-click instead though as that's much better.
kidpressingbuttons Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 Sorry if anyone else has asked this- how are you guys pushing this out? Installing classic shell onto the base image then using that or pushing the msi out over Group policy?
timbo343 Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 Sorry if anyone else has asked this- how are you guys pushing this out? Installing classic shell onto the base image then using that or pushing the msi out over Group policy? Yep, thats how we are going to do it.
Michael Posted March 9, 2016 Author Posted March 9, 2016 I've done both - as part of an image and deploying via Group Policy. The end result is the same
timbo343 Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 which way? GPO or MSI? Install on the golden image and set the settings via GPO.
kidpressingbuttons Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 awesome thanks! Really great solution Michael- thanks for sharing.
rjs_essex Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 Is anybody experiencing problems using Classic Shell causing File Explorer to crash? I think I've narrowed it down to a few possible Group Policy objects but not sure where to go from there... At the moment, if I enable the policies: Admin Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer > Hide these specified drives from My Computer > Restrict C drive only Admin Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer > Prevent access to drives from My Computer > Restrict C drive only After approx. 1-2 minutes of using the system File Explorer crashes and hangs. If I revert these changes in GP and enable access then the user can log on and use it as normal... It only seems to happen when you either select 'This PC' from the start menu or click 'This PC' in a file explorer window. Has anyone had similar issues with Classic Shell installed? I've tried the latest version 4.2.5 and even 4.2.4 but still have the same problem. We have extensively disabled group policies to narrow the issue down to these two, however, this could well be a complete red herring... As various other users it works fine so its definitely a group policy issue or a settings conflict somewhere along the way...
MicrodigitUK Posted March 9, 2016 Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) Is anybody experiencing problems using Classic Shell causing File Explorer to crash? I think I've narrowed it down to a few possible Group Policy objects but not sure where to go from there... At the moment, if I enable the policies: Admin Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer > Hide these specified drives from My Computer > Restrict C drive only Admin Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer > Prevent access to drives from My Computer > Restrict C drive only After approx. 1-2 minutes of using the system File Explorer crashes and hangs. If I revert these changes in GP and enable access then the user can log on and use it as normal... It only seems to happen when you either select 'This PC' from the start menu or click 'This PC' in a file explorer window. Has anyone had similar issues with Classic Shell installed? I've tried the latest version 4.2.5 and even 4.2.4 but still have the same problem. We have extensively disabled group policies to narrow the issue down to these two, however, this could well be a complete red herring... As various other users it works fine so its definitely a group policy issue or a settings conflict somewhere along the way... Yes been fighting with this issue for the past 3 months. Might be worth posting this info and a debug log on the classic shell forum. Hopefully then they might be able to reproduce the issue and find a fix or workaround. http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=12 Edited March 9, 2016 by MicrodigitUK
Michael Posted March 9, 2016 Author Posted March 9, 2016 I've had isolated incidents with Explorer freezing, rather than crashing. Opening Task Manager and restarting Windows Explorer brings things back to life. I've only noticed this behaviour since the February 2016 update, but as I say, only in isolated cases. There's now the March 2016 update you can download here: Windows 10240 Windows 10586 1
rjs_essex Posted March 10, 2016 Posted March 10, 2016 Yes been fighting with this issue for the past 3 months. Have you noticed anything in particular that causes it to crash/lock up? Is it the same Group Policies or do you believe it is something else? - - - Updated - - - I've only noticed this behaviour since the February 2016 update, but as I say, only in isolated cases. There's now the March 2016 update I'll give this a go and report back if it improves the situation. Thanks.
Michael Posted March 10, 2016 Author Posted March 10, 2016 Other things that come to mind is that it could be an Explorer shell extension causing the issue. You can optionally disable Classic Shell's extension, but I'm not convinced it is a Classic Shell issue, but most likely something else. When you research the issue online, there were similar issues previously with Windows 8.1 and Explorer crashing, with Classic Shell installed, but in summary it concluded it was other shell extensions causing the issue. The March 2016 update on the surface appears to address a lot of bugs rather than add functionality and I have now deployed it all networks I support, now that I'm confident it certainly doesn't make things worse. I've advised users who experience the issue to open Task Manager, expand (if required), highlight Windows Explorer and select 'Restart'. It always resolves the issue and doesn't require the user to restart their workstation. As above, I do restrict access to the local C: drive for the majority of end users, but seeing as these GPOs are official Microsoft policies, they're nothing to do with Classic Shell but Windows itself. Classic Shell only has a link pointing to This PC and nothing more, which again would point to an issue with Explorer itself. I've notified the relevant people about the deployment of the March 2016 update and likewise I'll report back my findings. 1
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