Windows 10 Start Menu - A Working Solution

[rjs_essex]

I've tested this update on two different installations and we are no longer seeing any crashes /lock ups. It was something that was very easy to replicate because it would happen so easily so it looks like the March update fixes the issue!

 

Will report back if we run into any other problems with more testing.

 

Thank you!

[Michael]

I can confirm the March 2016 update does appear to have resolved Explorer stability/freezing issues. I've had no more reports of these symptoms.

[sparkeh]

I can confirm the March 2016 update does appear to have resolved Explorer stability/freezing issues. I've had no more reports of these symptoms.

Agreed, our freezes have stopped too

[arjanver]

how to remove the help menu when right click the start menu?

[Michael]

how to remove the help menu when right click the start menu?

 

Have a look here

[arjanver]

Have a look here

 

Hi,

 

Thank you. I've missed that.

 

Does anyone have a good tutorial or steps about making a Mandatory profile for Windows 10?

[arjanver]

hi, thanks.

 

Question does or can the Pinned folder be the same location as the redirected start menu?

Like this:

\\share\startmenu"all shortcuts"

\\share\startmenu\pinned"all pinned shortcuts"

 

Or does the pinned folder a separate (share) folder like this for example \\share\pinned

 

And what does the MenuItems7 mean in user configuration\preferences\registry ?

 

deleting right click startmenu items gpo %localappdata%\microsoft\windows\winx\group1,2,3 fails with error code 0x80070003

 

And how to hide/remove the Administrative tools from the start menu, it keeps comming back

 

Also, how did you remove the search,desktop,edge icons on the taskbar?

 

Thanks

Edited March 16, 2016 by arjanver

[Michael]

hi, thanks.

 

Question does or can the Pinned folder be the same location as the redirected start menu?

Like this:

\\share\startmenu"all shortcuts"

\\share\startmenu\pinned"all pinned shortcuts"

 

Or does the pinned folder a separate (share) folder like this for example \\share\pinned

 

And what does the MenuItems7 mean in user configuration\preferences\registry ?

 

deleting right click startmenu items gpo %localappdata%\microsoft\windows\winx\group1,2,3 fails with error code 0x80070003

 

And how to hide/remove the Administrative tools from the start menu, it keeps comming back

 

Also, how did you remove the search,desktop,edge icons on the taskbar?

 

Thanks

 

Pinned items and a redirected Desktop/Start Menu could in theory be the same, but I'd recommend you keep them separate. This gives you the flexibility for both to be different. You can host them in the same share, just a different sub-folder.

 

The MenuItems7 regedit is in a User Context and not Machine. You may be able to do it in a Machine context, but again, this removes the flexibility to give different layouts to different users.

 

I'm not sure why you're seeing 0x80070003. Googling it points to a Windows Update error.

 

Administrative Tools (using my templates) is supposed to be visible for Domain Admins, but not Pupils/Staff for example. Without knowing your GPO configuration, it's difficult to say why it keeps appearing for all (presumably)?

 

There's a GPP here you can implement which hides Cortana and the Task View button for a much cleaner look.

[arjanver]

Administrative Tools (using my templates) is supposed to be visible for Domain Admins, but not Pupils/Staff for example. Without knowing your GPO configuration, it's difficult to say why it keeps appearing for all (presumably)?

 

What is the name of this option in you're template?

[Michael]

Top of my head, the MenuItems7 in the Admin GPO is slightly different than the Curric GPO, if you copy/paste them both into Notepad for example, you'll see minor differences.

 

You have to customise the Start Menu in XML, which then generates the relevant registry entries. There aren't specific GPOs for these options.

 

Here's the latest version I'm using, still unchanged as it just works

[arjanver]

You have to customise the Start Menu in XML, which then generates the relevant registry entries. There aren't specific GPOs for these options.

 

Thanks, but can you point me in the right direction? for you're above answer?

Or do you mean, customise, and then export the registry data from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\IvoSoft\ClassicStartMenu\Settings\MenuItems7?

 

and again....Thanks

Edited March 17, 2016 by arjanver

[Michael]

Initially I installed Classic Shell on what of my test systems. You can then tweak/configure how it looks by right clicking 'Start', select 'Settings', 'Customise Start Menu'.

 

Once you've got your perfect setup, then you can navigate to MenuItems7 (in the registry) and copy/paste this into a GPP ready to deploy. By all means, what I've created works for me and consulting end users, but I appreciate every network and requirement is different; but that's essentially how to do it in summary.

[Localtechie]

Hi everyone,

 

I think this is the way to go with us as well now I haven't got the patience to battle with the existing start menu any more - what were MS thinking?!!!

 

Anyway I have hit a few stumbling blocks with classic shell and wondered if anyone can help:

 

Am I right in thinking that I can go into the Classic start menu settings and customise the "customize start menu" tab fill in required settings and then that should place a registry in HKCU\Ivosoft\Classicstartmenu\Settings\Menu7? Currently I have modified the start menu slightly but don't appear to have any registry settings called Menu 7 so am I bit stuck.

 

Also for the pinned icon's (chrome etc) Again am I right in thinking that you have to create them from a user account then grab the shortcuts from %appdata%\classicshell\pinned and then inside the GPO have it copy all the icons over for each user? I am a bit worried about logon times using this method but if that's the way it has to be done then so be it!

 

Initially I am trying to se tup a start menu with chrome and a few icons and once I have that working can then begin creating a full start menu.

 

Looking forward to any replies.

Thanks!

[sparkeh]

Also for the pinned icon's (chrome etc) Again am I right in thinking that you have to create them from a user account then grab the shortcuts from %appdata%\classicshell\pinned and then inside the GPO have it copy all the icons over for each user? I am a bit worried about logon times using this method but if that's the way it has to be done then so be it!

That's how I do it, using GPPs. There is no noticeable impact on login times, I have verbose logon messages enabled and you don't even see the GPO being applied!

[NB9457]

I've used the GPOs and MSI file included in the install file. Got to say it is very customisable vis GPO and so far seems to be working well.

[kennysarmy]

OK I'm just starting out with Classic Start Menu.

 

To date I've extracted the 64bit MSI and pushed out to our test W10 PC.

 

I've installed the adm templates and am looking at the settings:

 

So far I've set:

 

Common Start Menu folder - enabled and locked to a value, this then points to a folder on our network where I will put the pupils desktop icons, working fine.

 

Control Panel - enabled and locked to a value "don't display this item", NOT working - Control Panel menu still appears although it does n't work as I've created another policy : User Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Control Panel -Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC Settings - Enabled

However to keep things tidy I'd like to remove the entry "Control Panel" (and others) from the menu.

 

 

Basically all I want is when the users click the start button they get redirected to my folder on another server which will list the icons I want them to be able to access and apart from that they should only get the logoff, restart and shutdown options!

 

Can anyone assist?

[Michael]

If you look at the descriptions of GPOs, you'll see they apply either to Classic style, Classic with two columns or Windows 7 style. The GPO you're referring to won't work with Windows 7 style, but by only customising on the 'Customize Start Menu' tab, which then translates to the MenuItems7 registry entry.

 

To re-direct the Start Menu to a share (All Programs), you can do this exactly as if you were working with Windows 7. Set the necessary/standard Microsoft GPOs, alongside your Classic Shell GPOs. Hope this helps

[kennysarmy]

If you look at the descriptions of GPOs, you'll see they apply either to Classic style, Classic with two columns or Windows 7 style. The GPO you're referring to won't work with Windows 7 style, but by only customising on the 'Customize Start Menu' tab, which then translates to the MenuItems7 registry entry.

 

To re-direct the Start Menu to a share (All Programs), you can do this exactly as if you were working with Windows 7. Set the necessary/standard Microsoft GPOs, alongside your Classic Shell GPOs. Hope this helps

 

I've almost got what I want....I've done as you suggested and exported the registry items which has tidied that up.

 

I've been through all the Classic Shell settings pertaining to the Windows 7 menu style and set what I can.

 

When the test pupil now click the Start Button icon it automatically opens up the "All programs" option and shows all the icons I want from the server share.

 

However the pupil can click the "Back" button and in the left hand column it shows "Start Menu (Windows)" - I'd like to remove this item or remove the "Back" option.

 

Any help appreciated.

 

Regards

[Michael]

I'm not sure you can, but if you consult my notes here you can pre-set the shortcuts that appear on this menu (Frequently used Items).

[kennysarmy]

I'm not sure you can, but if you consult my notes here you can pre-set the shortcuts that appear on this menu (Frequently used Items).

 

OK by moving to a "classic with one column" I'm almost there...

 

BUT.

 

I have the program menu in twice (It's correctly redirecting to the right place on one of my file servers - but I can't work out why it's showing twice)

 

 

and if you SHIFT+right click the start button you get this....which I'd like to suppress or turn off!

 

 

 

These are the only classic shell options I'm using:

 

 

and this is my desktop / start menu redirection policy.

 

 

I've been on this for two hours now and can't work out how to stop the Programs appearing twice!

 

and it would be great to block the SHIFT+right click too...

[altecsole]

I'm not sure you can, but if you consult my notes here you can pre-set the shortcuts that appear on this menu (Frequently used Items).

 

Can I just say a huge thanks to you Michael for all our time and effort in posting your configuration and setup here; it's saved me a lot of work and is much appreciated.

[Michael]

OK by moving to a "classic with one column" I'm almost there...

 

BUT.

 

I have the program menu in twice (It's correctly redirecting to the right place on one of my file servers - but I can't work out why it's showing twice)

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36305[/ATTACH]

 

and if you SHIFT+right click the start button you get this....which I'd like to suppress or turn off!

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36306[/ATTACH]

 

 

These are the only classic shell options I'm using:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36307[/ATTACH]

 

and this is my desktop / start menu redirection policy.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36308[/ATTACH]

 

I've been on this for two hours now and can't work out how to stop the Programs appearing twice!

 

and it would be great to block the SHIFT+right click too...

 

I suspect one's for Apps and the other for 32/64Bit applications as a guess. I've developed my Start Menu around the Windows 7 look/feel.

 

If you look under the Context Menu tab (within Classic Shell), you can hide it with Classic Shell's own or indeed nothing at all. This is discussed in this topic as it's something I tweaked myself

[arjanver]

Hi,

 

SHIFT+right click or win+X, what i've done is delete the 3 folder in my default profile \AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WinX, didn't find a gpo or registry item for this.

 

program menu in twice, maybe also a folder local on you're machine. look in: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows

If you ricght click on these folder, you should see it's location

[karldenton]

So glad I found this. Got it setup and working great. One question (and I might be missing the setting)

 

Where can I configure it so it goes straight to logon screen rather than showing the time. I've got it working for Win 7 but that policy doesn't seem to apply on Win10. Is it an option in Classic explorer?

[Michael]

It's the same GPO as far as I'm aware -

 

Computer Config > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options - Interactive logon: Do not require CTRL+ALT+DEL - Enabled