Windows 10 Start Menu - A Working Solution

[kennysarmy]

Which version of Classic Shell are you using and which Windows Build? There was a recent Windows 10 Update which fixes the hanging of explorer.exe and seems to have resolved it for me.

 

Classic 4.3.1

 

Windows 1703 (OS Build 15063.674) - all latest security patches applied.

 

 

I've had a brief look at Start Layout customization via XML - looks like that will now be my half-term task

[ITGURU]

Classic 4.3.1

 

Windows 1703 (OS Build 15063.674) - all latest security patches applied.

 

 

I've had a brief look at Start Layout customization via XML - looks like that will now be my half-term task

 

I looked at start menu XML before but unless things have changed since initial releases I found it didn't stick properly and doesn't work properly with roaming profiles.

 

On the same WINVER as you, but still using 4.3.0 classis shell and no users have reported the issue.

[sparkeh]

I looked at start menu XML before but unless things have changed since initial releases I found it didn't stick properly and doesn't work properly with roaming profiles.

 

On the same WINVER as you, but still using 4.3.0 classis shell and no users have reported the issue.

 

Yes things have changed, IME with 1703 it actually started working.

Oh and MS have stated that roaming profiles are not supported (kinda looks like they are stopping support for roaming profiles altogether)

Edited October 19, 2017 by sparkeh

[bondbill2k2]

Having rolled out Windows 10 Edu 1703 in the Summer using classic shell we ended up removing classic shell to prevent lockups and delayed start menus. I've started to look at XML rollout of the start menu exported via powershell from a computer with the standard Windows 10 image then renaming the DesktopApplicationLinkPath to DesktopApplicationID however this is the current issue I'm having:

 

 

 

 

Applied to a student produces this mess with near all content added missing:

 

 

 

Just to confirm the .ink files are there as they should be if that program is installed:

[3s-gtech]

Do you have the "Remove common program groups from Start Menu" policy enabled, so those shortcuts don't actually appear to users? I can't tell from that screenshot. That will stop this from working. We use redirected Start menus to overcome this, so that the machine's local Start Menu is irrelevant to the users.

[bondbill2k2]

Do you have the "Remove common program groups from Start Menu" policy enabled, so those shortcuts don't actually appear to users? I can't tell from that screenshot. That will stop this from working. We use redirected Start menus to overcome this, so that the machine's local Start Menu is irrelevant to the users.

 

We also use folder redirection, the "Remove common program groups from Start Menu" was enabled but has now been disabled, the broken tile no longer shows however I still only get the Photos and Edge tile

 

Heres out current Student Start Menu GPO settings applied to my test account:

[thatley]

Has anyone started using 1709 with classic shell 4.3.1 yet? As 1703 is only supported until sept 2018, decided to start with 1709.

 

Now with all the hassle of removing provisioned apps etc, I leave them in and will block with Applocker if need be so not a problem for me with the them being there. The issue I've come up against is when you first log on, the Apps menu only shows about 7 or 8 Apps. Log off and on again and ALL the Apps show in the list. Log off and log on as another user and the same happens and you have to log on again to see all the Apps.

 

I don't redirect the start menu in anyway and even if I remove classic shell, the Apps on the left aren't all there on first log on - it's very strange behaviour and I can't find a solution. I've updated to the latest patches which is meant to fix missing apps but that has no effect - even on vanilla 1709.

 

These are all roaming profiles BTW.

 

Anyone have this or have any suggestions?

[Arthur]

These are all roaming profiles BTW.

Have you already added the registry value mentioned in step 4 of step 7 of this article...?

 

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj649079%28v=ws.11%29.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

 

That's supposed to fix Start Menu issues when using roaming profiles.

[thatley]

Thanks Arthur,

 

You know what, I can't actually remember that, so possibly not. I'll check tomorrow. If this fixes the issue I'll be over the moon as that's all I'm having problems with at the moment.

 

Cheers, you're a legend.

[KK20]

just an update for us (and those who are interested). 1709 testing on about 60 machines ( 2 labs). The XML I posted much earlier in this thread still works for us; I have only added more .LNKs. The same XML has .LNK, IE and now a logoff.lnk (a nifty shortcut mapped to C:\Windows\System32\logoff.exe) and I also create an LNK to open the old file/printer sharing screen (an LNK mapped to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A} - this is a great way to get shortcuts opening old control panel items). the odd user has some icons missing - profile delete sorts this out but the vast majority works. I found originally that people have fewer issues if I get rid of the tile group title name.

 

LNKs are a mixture of local (copied from an old fashioned script file with icacls making sure they have the correct permissions) and network .LNK

 

our XML was originally generated in 1607. We skipped 1703 and are updating (via WSUS) to 1709.

Edited November 20, 2017 by KK20

[thatley]

just an update for us (and those who are interested). 1709 testing on about 60 machines ( 2 labs). The XML I posted much earlier in this thread still works for us; I have only added more .LNKs. The same XML has .LNK, IE and now a logoff.lnk (a nifty shortcut mapped to C:\Windows\System32\logoff.exe) and I also create an LNK to open the old file/printer sharing screen (an LNK mapped to %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A} - this is a great way to get shortcuts opening old control panel items). the odd user has some icons missing - profile delete sorts this out but the vast majority works. I found originally that people have fewer issues if I get rid of the tile group title name.

 

LNKs are a mixture of local (copied from an old fashioned script file with icacls making sure they have the correct permissions) and network .LNK

 

our XML was originally generated in 1607. We skipped 1703 and are updating (via WSUS) to 1709.

 

Thanks KK20, I'm back in the office tomorrow so will start setting this up. I currently use Classic Shell, but I want a backup just in case, as I've read that Classic Shell may not get any more updates (unless the community take it on and maintain it that is).

 

Will also be trying what Arthur sent me about fixing Mandatory/Roaming profiles. Hopefully will have 2 working solutions by the end of the week!

 

Thanks.

[thatley]

Have you already added the registry value mentioned in step 4 of step 7 of this article...?

 

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj649079%28v=ws.11%29.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

 

That's supposed to fix Start Menu issues when using roaming profiles.

 

Hi Arthur, finally back in the office today to try the above. Unfortunately this Reg change hasn't fixed the issue. Tested on a couple of new profiles, log on and sometimes all the Apps are there (approx. 25 of them), log off then on again and only these show:

 

Calendar

Camera

Cortana

Mail

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Store

Photos

Settings

 

Log off and on again and they sometimes all come back - it's so sporadic.

 

As I mentioned, I don't have any start menu policies or start menu re-directs, just Classic Shell 4.3.1. Windows 10 1709 with no Apps removed from the build and all MS updates are up to date.

 

Anyone else getting this? It's driving me insane!

[sted]

dont apps reside in appdata so if your profile/appdata roams the apps will roam with them meaning if pc1 they first logged onto had say photos even if its not installed on pc3 it will get dragged across with app data?

[thatley]

I'm actually running this on 1 pc at the moment. So same PC, log off log on - different Apps show and because of this, the Apps that don't show means they're missing from Tiles too.

 

Is it worth just re-directing the Apps location to a network share?

 

Anyone got round this?

[eddyc]

Unfortunately it just isn't possible with Classic Shell, but it is possible with Group Policy:

 

User Config > Preferences > Windows Settings > Files.

 

Specify 'Delete' from the drop down menu, then in turn specify:

 

%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX\Group1\*.*

%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX\Group2\*.*

%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX\Group3\*.*

 

Leave the folder structure 'as is', otherwise Windows will just re-create the WinX folder and its default shortcuts. This is the only method whereby you can completely hide the context menu, even when pressing Win+X or Shift+RightClick. The other advantage is you can do this on a per user basis, so you don't lock everyone out of the context menu who may need it.

 

 

Are you still using this method? I can't seem to get it to work on Windows 10 1709 :-(

[xxlonewolfxx123]

I would also like to know.

[PyROm]

I am still using the deleting contents of group folders in winx method on 1709, and it is still working for me, dont forget that the changes only happen on new logins, so you have to delprof to clear old ones out that may have logged in before deleteing.