File Explorer on the Start Menu

[james1337]

Hi everyone,

 

I've just started testing Windows 10 on our network and found the majority of everything works nicely, with the exception that I'm finding it a tad difficult finding any options whatsoever, to enable the "File Explorer" button on the Start Menu, so that students can actually browse to their files .

 

Has anyone had any luck with possibly getting the button back at all?

 

I've done quite a bit of digging around but only to find that the "Pinned Icons" part can only be done when you configure the local user profile.

 

Many thanks.

[thimon]

Hi James. Never had any luck making File Explorer a pinned icon, however I have got File Explorer where Settings is and have a shortcut to file explorer on the taskbar. I'll have a look at our Group Policies tomorrow as I can't remember off the top of my head, I'll then let you know what we've got set. I do remember there was a policy set in a Windows 7 policy that stopped File Explorer appearing in Windows 8, will let you know!

[FragglePete]

Not sure if you've looked at the latest inside preview but they have put a file explorer icon on the start menu top level.

 

Pete

[james1337]

Thank you very much thimon, I have managed to find an old GPO which was getting rid of the option, under User Configuration -> Policies -> Admin Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar -> Remove pinned programs list from the Start Menu - Enabled.

 

If I turn that off, the menu item appears, sadly no Windows Explorer window appears though, so I'm assuming some other policy setting, somewhere in an OU is causing me problems :-(.

 

FragglePete - No I haven't yet seen that, I'm not actually aware how to look at inside previews but I'll have a look now, thanks :-)!!

[thimon]

I tried having a look today, but of course with me having taken the option out I've no idea where it's placed it bugged me for ages, and all it took was one setting changed. I'll keep a look out for you and report back!

[Michael]

Have a look here and here

 

Funnily enough I have no issues with end users accessing their files - Pupils and Staff as its self explanatory!

[james1337]

Cheers thimon, thank you for looking, and thank you too Michael.

 

I have followed the links that you posted, and have now installed Classic Shell and used the group policy templates, it is such a brilliant solution!!

 

I've managed to customise the start menu exactly to our specifications using a few settings and registry keys in a single GPO!

 

Have a good weekend.

[Michael]

You're welcome, glad it worked!

 

It still remains to be seen if Redstone's Start Menu will be easier to manage, bug free or more complex. We'll find out soon enough, but I still have reservations whether it will be as simple as Classic Shell!

[mavhc]

Classic shell hacked https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12215449

[Steve21]

Classic shell hacked https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12215449

 

Wasn't if Fosshub? Lots of downloads they host got replaced by the MBR deleting program, Audacity etc too

 

Steve

[mavhc]

Yeah, just a lot of people downloading classic shell recently