Windows 10 Start Menu - A Working Solution

[zmatcham28]

Can I have the Start Menu Classic Shell Backup file, if you open the Settings there is backup and you get an XML file.

It would be great if you can.

[karldenton]

I might have missed this one too. Is there a option so the first time someone logs on and clicks the start menu it doesn't come up with the classic shell options? I've set the policy so its 2 columns

[Michael]

Can I have the Start Menu Classic Shell Backup file, if you open the Settings there is backup and you get an XML file.

It would be great if you can.

 

Best I can advise is to install/customise Classic Shell directly to your specifications then export as required.

[Michael]

I might have missed this one too. Is there a option so the first time someone logs on and clicks the start menu it doesn't come up with the classic shell options? I've set the policy so its 2 columns

 

I can only speculate the GPO isn't in the right place or there are other numerous issues. In my experience, when configuring a Start Menu type via GPO it doesn't prompt the end user. If you use my templates as a guide, they do work, so end users are not prompted.

[sparkeh]

I can only speculate the GPO isn't in the right place or there are other numerous issues. In my experience, when configuring a Start Menu type via GPO it doesn't prompt the end user. If you use my templates as a guide, they do work, so end users are not prompted.

Agreed. In my experience, a user with the menu type applied by gpo is not prompted. I keep forgetting to add the gpo to my account so when I login for the first time I get the prompt.

[kidpressingbuttons]

is there any way I can get the old windows 7 search bar? I remember it being there before i configured the GPOs.

[profit10]

Thanks Michael, this works a treat!

 

One problem I am having is getting the All Programs list to redirect. Can anyone help with this?

 

Thanks.

[Michael]

is there any way I can get the old windows 7 search bar? I remember it being there before i configured the GPOs.

 

You can optionally keep the Search Bar within Classic Shell, but my templates disable this.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Thanks Michael, this works a treat!

 

One problem I am having is getting the All Programs list to redirect. Can anyone help with this?

 

Thanks.

 

You simply use Folder Redirection for the Start Menu (within Active Directory) and Classic Shell will populate shortcuts, just as Windows 7 did/does.

[profit10]

Thanks, I had set that policy but was having a thick moment and hadn't unchecked a couple of boxes!

 

It's working however it still has Accessories, System, Admin tools etc. How can I remove these?

[Michael]

You need to enable:

 

User config > Admin Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar - Remove common program groups from Start Menu and Remove All Programs list from the Start menu

[rpettit]

I am being incredible stupid with the import of the Pre-Made GPO's for Classic Shell.

 

'To import a GPO, create the GPOs (as per my example above), then under Group Policy Objects, right click Classic Shell Curric (for example), then select Import and follow the on screen prompts. Now link the newly created GPO as required.'

 

I have imported the definitions into the SYSVOL folder and they appear in the GPO that I have created. I am looking to import the pre-configured GPO's that we created that I have downloaded. I am having no luck in importing these into the GPO. Do I need to make any changes to the .XML files for our network?

[Michael]

When you open Group Policy Management, towards the bottom of your structure, the 'Group Policy Objects' container, includes all Group Policies in your domain.

 

You can only import from within here. Hope this makes sense!

[profit10]

I had this working perfectly on a VM last week and now this week I've been testing with a physical machine and I'm getting this error message in the Event viewer. I'm sure I haven't changed anything at all.

 

"The user 'classicshell.chm' preference item in the 'Classic Shell Curric' policy object did not apply because it failed with error code '0x80070003' The system cannot find the path specified"

 

Any help would be great, Thanks.

[Michael]

Error 0x80070003 is a possible date/time issue.

[profit10]

I've checked the date and time settings and they are all correct.

[Michael]

If you repair/re-install Classic Shell does the issue go away?

[profit10]

Reinstalling got it working. Thanks.

[ICTHUS]

For us we gave up on redirecting the Windows 10 Menu and tiles.

We just let Windows 10 build a standard menu on the installed apps on the PC, and then added menu shortcuts and tiles to it with an XML file.

[profit10]

Is there a way to change the colour of the menu? I've had a look but can't find anything.

[jonnykewell1]

Hello all,

 

After battling for what seems weeks/months trying to get a redirected Start Menu working, I gave up and instead I'm now using Classic Shell successfully. This took one afternoon to read the notes, make the necessary configurations and test.

 

You can download Classic Shell here. The latest at the time of writing is 4.2.5 and works perfectly on Windows 10240 and 10586 builds.

 

To extract the MSI, run the following from an elevated Command Prompt for 32 or 64 instances:

 

ClassicShellSetup_4_2_5.exe extract32

or

 

ClassicShellSetup_4_2_5.exe extract64

 

Install Classic Shell manually on one domain connected workstation. Then navigate to:

 

C:\Program Files\Classic Shell

and open/extract the contents of the PolicyDefinitions Zip file.

 

Copy/paste this into your Policy Definitions folder on your server, located:

 

C:\Windows\SYSVOL\sysvol\Domain_Name\Policies\PolicyDefinitions

 

Open up Group Policy and you'll see a new option labelled Classic Shell under:

 

User Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Classic Shell

 

Computer Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Classic Shell

 

As a recommendation (in my configuration), I've created two new GPOs - Classic Shell Curric and Classic Shell Admin. As the name suggests, Curric is suitable for Pupils/Teachers and Admin, either Domain Admins and/or MIS Staff.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]33816[/ATTACH]

 

Above I've attached the GPOs I've configured, which you can easily import, then link into your Group Policies. All the GPOs I've configured focus on the user context and not the computer context. It's a Zip file and is 100% free from viruses (I can promise you that)!

 

Most configurations are using the newly imported Classic Shell GPOs. Some settings however cannot be configured by a GPO, so the remainder are done by a GPP regedit to import additional settings. Additional settings for example, included removing the Games option from the Windows 7 Start Menu.

 

To import a GPO, create the GPOs (as per my example above), then under Group Policy Objects, right click Classic Shell Curric (for example), then select Import and follow the on screen prompts. Now link the newly created GPO as required.

 

What to expect?

 

Here's what the Curric Start Menu looks like:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]33817[/ATTACH]

 

The Admin Start Menu looks the same, apart from it has Control Panel, PC Settings > Administrative Tools and Run (to name a few)!

 

I've pretty much been forced into working with windows 10 on some new laptops at a primary school. I'm testing some machines for the first time this afternoon so this might come in handy. Thank you.

[Iain.Faulkner]

Just wanted to add my thanks to @Michael and everyone else who has contributed to this thread, this is a life saver, why on earth can't it be this straight forward without the need for a 3rd party application?

 

Just a quick one, I've got a student start menu that I am very pleased with, however under "All Programs" I can still see "Accessories", "Start-Up" & "Windows Admin Tools". Any suggestions on how to get rid of these?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Iain

[ITJS2015]

If you have a re-direct startup menu with the classic shell enabled on your policy you should not see that? Tell me if I am wrong but im sure it just sees a folder which all your programs icons on your server

 

I had this problem with windows 7 and worked like a treat, I know windows 10 is so much different and getting complicated but I am sure that will not appear if it was setup

[sted]

Just wanted to add my thanks to @Michael and everyone else who has contributed to this thread, this is a life saver, why on earth can't it be this straight forward without the need for a 3rd party application?

 

Just a quick one, I've got a student start menu that I am very pleased with, however under "All Programs" I can still see "Accessories", "Start-Up" & "Windows Admin Tools". Any suggestions on how to get rid of these?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Iain

 

i just hide them as windows seem to like recreating them

[Michael]

Hello all,

 

Everything in my original post here is still applicable, but please download these updated GPOs - Classic Shell 26.07.16.zip

 

There are now three GPOs -

 

Classic Shell Admin - Domain Admins/MIS Users

Classic Shell Curric - Pupil Users

Classic Shell Staff - Staff Users

 

Classic Shell Staff makes Control Panel accessible, but not Administrative Tools or PC Settings (whereas Classic Shell Admin does); Classic Shell Staff can work in combination with the following Group Policy -

 

User Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Control Panel - Show only specified Control Panel items.

 

A list of options are available here (scroll down the page). I should note these are NOT configured in the attachment. I'd suggest making such changes in your current Staff GPO, then link the Classic Shell Staff GPO to work alongside it.

 

If you don't want this configuration, you can continue using Classic Shell Curric for both Staff and Pupils as before.

 

The attached GPOs contain minor configuration updates which help stability, changing how GPP settings are applied from 'Replace' to 'Update' and setting 'Deleted GPP Items' to only apply once.

 

NOTE: Within the attachment (as before), I've also included a folder labelled 'Pinned'. Copy/paste this to the required Start Menu Folder Redirection share or use your own shortcuts.

 

For example: \\Servername\Share\Curric\Start Menu\Pinned etc...

 

You need to change or remove the UNC paths to match your servername and share. This applies to all three GPOs to Pin Apps on the Start Menu.

 

User Config > Preferences > Windows Settings > Files

 

Adjust these in turn and that's it!

 

Redstone

Please note when Redstone is released early August 2016, a newer/updated version of Classic Shell 4.2.7 (currently Beta) is recommended, but the attached GPOs themselves should work absolutely fine. Have a good Summer!

[Simcfc73]

Does this work with folder redirection?