Windows 10 Start Menu - A Working Solution

[Blue_Cookeh]

Interesting as I think I have just hit this problem. Can't nail down exactly what's going on but randomly the start menu (classic start), task bar and notification area just stop responding. Then you have CTRL + ALT + DEL sign out.

 

That's exactly it, I can't pinpoint it either. I've not done anything fancy, it's just a (relatively clean) standard mandatory profile. It's starting to become a real problem for us now so I've started building a Win8.1 image to roll out it's happening for us on the standard Windows task bar and (now) with classic shell also.

Edited January 20, 2016 by Blue_Cookeh

[MicrodigitUK]

Interesting as I think I have just hit this problem. Can't nail down exactly what's going on but randomly the start menu (classic start), task bar and notification area just stop responding. Then you have CTRL + ALT + DEL sign out.

 

We also have this issue. Explorer will just crash randomly. Could be fine for hours but then you can't use anything linked to explorer. No indication in event viewer of a problem just get explorer freezing. We took some debug logs and uploaded in this thread, still not found a solution other than exiting classic shell.

Runs fine now (no explorer crashes) we have stopped using classic shell on Windows 10, so is 100% classic shell that triggers the freezing.

 

http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5587

 

Maybe if others with the same problem could upload their debug logs the lovely people at classic shell can find the common problem.

[Blue_Cookeh]

We also have this issue. Explorer will just crash randomly. Could be fine for hours but then you can't use anything linked to explorer. No indication in event viewer of a problem just get explorer freezing. We took some debug logs and uploaded in this thread, still not found a solution other than exiting classic shell.

Runs fine now (no explorer crashes) we have stopped using classic shell on Windows 10, so is 100% classic shell that triggers the freezing.

 

Classic Shell • View topic - Classic Start Menu hangs explorer.exe

 

Maybe if others with the same problem could upload their debug logs the lovely people at classic shell can find the common problem.

 

This is a different issue, I just had a machine where Classic Shell was still working but couldn't click on any other part of the task bar (cortana etc). Quitting Classic Shell bought back the original Windows 10 start button which I couldn't click.

[MicrodigitUK]

This is a different issue, I just had a machine where Classic Shell was still working but couldn't click on any other part of the task bar (cortana etc). Quitting Classic Shell bought back the original Windows 10 start button which I couldn't click.

 

Sounds the same to me. That dose happen at the same time. The task bar dose not work and freezes as its part of explorer.

To be clear you have to log out and back in then quit classic shell for things to be stabilized. Just exiting classic shell will leave explorer frozen.

 

Do open explorer Windows also freeze for you?

Edited January 21, 2016 by MicrodigitUK

[Blue_Cookeh]

Sounds the same to me. That dose happen at the same time. The task bar dose not work and freezes as its part of explorer.

To be clear you have to log out and back in then quit classic shell for things to be stabilized. Just exiting classic shell will leave explorer frozen.

 

Do open explorer Windows also freeze for you?

 

This happens on machines without Classic Shell, and Classic Shell still works when this happens for us. I don't think Explorer is crashing since any open windows are still usable, it's literally just the task bar in our situation.

 

I have a feeling it's something to do with our mandatory profile permissions though.

[sparkeh]

Been doing some testing and research and it could possibly be something to do with Universal Apps trying to update and screwing up the start menu. It does seems to coincide with errors in the logs about updates failing.

 

Going to test a new build with *all* apps striped out from the .wim and see if that is any better.

[Sheridan]

I'm having a play with this and so far its looking good - the only issue so far is that Games and Default Programs are still showing, yet I have a GPP to not show these. Odd

 

It is working with our redirected Start Menu though, and that makes it potentially ready for deployment!

[sparkeh]

Ok got a handle on the frozen start menu issue.

 

So after stripping everything out it still happened but have narrowed it down to OneDrive doing an update. I can see exactly what happens, Toast notification comes up about the OneDrive update, the OneDrive icon disappears, the menu/explorer freezes, the icon comes back and after a while the menu starts working again.

 

Problem is it seems to happen on every user's first logon.

 

Anyone know how to prevent OneDrive running?

Annoyingly there is a Local Group Policy setting to disable it but no central GP setting and the reg setting that worked in Win 8.1 no longer does.

 

Guess I could setup AppLocker?

[Michael]

There's a GPO when you download the Windows 10 templates -

 

Computer Config > Admin Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive - Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage - Enabled

 

Requires 2008 R2 or Win 7 or later.

 

With Office 2016 installed and its templates imported, I can't see any GPOs for One for Business, but there might be.

[sparkeh]

There's a GPO when you download the Windows 10 templates -

 

Computer Config > Admin Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive - Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage - Enabled

 

Requires 2008 R2 or Win 7 or later.

 

With Office 2016 installed and its templates imported, I can't see any GPOs for One for Business, but there might be.

 

Yeah I read somewhere that but I don't have that setting. There's no one drive key. I repaired that win 10 gpos via the installation msi and installed the v1511 gpos as well but still not there!?

 

Currently trying an idea I read about removing the reg key from the default profile that runs the one drive setup for every user on first login.

Edited January 21, 2016 by sparkeh

[Michael]

Yeah I read somewhere that but I don't have that setting. There's no one drive key. I repaired that win 10 gpos via the installation msi and installed the v1511 gpos as well but still not there!?

 

Currently trying an idea I read about removing the reg key from the default profile that runs the one drive setup for every user on first login.

 

So I presume you are copying the template files to your PolicyDefinitions folder on your server? I can't see why else it wouldn't work. The MSI only extracts them to a location within Program Files which is no good. They need to be moved to show up - but apologies if I've mis-understood

[sparkeh]

So I presume you are copying the template files to your PolicyDefinitions folder on your server? I can't see why else it wouldn't work. The MSI only extracts them to a location within Program Files which is no good. They need to be moved to show up - but apologies if I've mis-understood

 

Oh no sorry I wasn't clear, yes I moved them.

 

It's really odd as i can't find anything else missing. I'm going to try re-downloading and copying again tomorrow. I am working on the assumption that I am doing something daft.

[Michael]

Oh no sorry I wasn't clear, yes I moved them.

 

It's really odd as i can't find anything else missing. I'm going to try re-downloading and copying again tomorrow. I am working on the assumption that I am doing something daft.

 

If the Classic Shell templates show, then the Win 10 templates should too. I can't think why else they wouldn't

[sparkeh]

Ok so rebooted the server and the setting appeared. Go figure. This is filed firmly under "it works now so don't worry about why it didn't"

 

Initial testing seems to indicate that it has fixed the frozen menu and task bar issue we were seeing.

 

Next question.

@Michael how have you hidden the 'search' and 'task view' icon? Via the registry? Can't seem to find a Group Policy setting to do this?

[Michael]

Ok so rebooted the server and the setting appeared. Go figure. This is filed firmly under "it works now so don't worry about why it didn't"

 

Initial testing seems to indicate that it has fixed the frozen menu and task bar issue we were seeing.

 

Next question.

@Michael how have you hidden the 'search' and 'task view' icon? Via the registry? Can't seem to find a Group Policy setting to do this?

 

It's done via a GPP regedit as follows. Hope this helps!

[sparkeh]

It's done via a GPP regedit as follows. Hope this helps!

Ha, just doing the exact same thing! Thanks

[Garacesh]

if you want the apps 100% removed just use dism on the install.wim file on the dvd and remove them from the image

 

I'm looking into this, but there doesn't seem to be much documentation on DSIM (I keep getting Error: 87, parameter is incorrect).. I don't suppose you'd know any decent resources, would you?

[sparkeh]

I'm looking into this, but there doesn't seem to be much documentation on DSIM (I keep getting Error: 87, parameter is incorrect).. I don't suppose you'd know any decent resources, would you?

 

I used a powershell script to remove them from the wim. When I'm back in the office I'll dig it out.

[sparkeh]

I used a powershell script to remove them from the wim. When I'm back in the office I'll dig it out.

Here's what I used: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Removing-Built-in-apps-65dc387b

 

I ran it in the interactive mode so I could choose what to remove and what to keep.

[Garacesh]

Here's what I used: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Removing-Built-in-apps-65dc387b

 

I ran it in the interactive mode so I could choose what to remove and what to keep.

 

Mounting Windows-Image failed...
Error: The term 'Mount-WindowsImage' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable progr
am. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

 

Edit: Oops. Q&A page says to run it on W10.

[robjduk]

Has anyone found a way to stop it creating links in programs such as system tools? I can get it to redirect as I want but keeps creating folders I dont want users to have but it makes them in the users appdata folder. Pretty annoying.

[sparkeh]

Has anyone found a way to stop it creating links in programs such as system tools? I can get it to redirect as I want but keeps creating folders I dont want users to have but it makes them in the users appdata folder. Pretty annoying.

Doesn't directly answer your question, but I am creating a menu in the pinned items area and hiding the all programs link.

That way users get shortcut to all the apps they need with out all the clutter of things they don't.

[Michael]

Has anyone found a way to stop it creating links in programs such as system tools? I can get it to redirect as I want but keeps creating folders I dont want users to have but it makes them in the users appdata folder. Pretty annoying.

 

If you use the Start Menu Folder Redirection, you can specify set shortcuts on the All Programs menu rather than remove/hide it completely.

 

Other GPOs to enable are:

 

User Config > Policies > Admin Templates > Start Menu & Taskbar -

 

Remove common program groups from Start Menu - enabled

Remove All Programs list from the Start Menu - enabled

[robjduk]

Can anyone help me get rid of this please?

 

 

The programs folder over the documents is fine and is set in classic shell's group policy but I dont seem to be able to get rid of the top programs folder. It was attached to the redirected start folder but that policy is no longer set and want it to vanish but can not find anything to get rid of.

 

Thanks

[robjduk]

Just noticed (yes I know its Saturday night), it creates a programs folder on user login. I thought about redirecting that to a folder for useful links but everytime it starts, makes the programs folder which looks untidy