StartLayout Issues

[ass17]

Hi folks,

 

We can't seem to get a start layout xml file to work via GPO.

 

We're are running Win10 Edu, fully updated etc...

 

We have set a GPO that set the StartLayout on both Computer and user sections specifying a local path.

 

It doesn't apply the layout and just has two tiles on it, settings and edge.

 

I even used the default profile default layouts xml file and it didn't work with that one.

 

What is more bizarre, is that if I login as a domain admin that doesn't use a network profile, it creates me a new local profile based on the default but doesn't use the default layout as specified in the default layout xml file.

 

Can anyone shed some light?

[datar_]

I've started having issues with this recently, it works fine on 10586.0 but some when some machines update to 10586.437+ or 14393, it's been a bit odd.

 

Good way to troubleshoot this is to recreate your StartLayout.xml using the powershell command. See if that works It's something I'll be looking into today and I'll let you know

[ass17]

Ok thanks, our start layout just needs a few links to network folders, no actual apps.

[datar_]

Ah I see.

 

I had a bit of difficulty getting this to work at first.

 

The way I got to work was that I had to add a shortcut to the StartMenu (%CommonStartMenuDir%) to the network path I wanted: \\ServerName\Share$\Folder

 

and then in the StartMenu.Xml file I would have this line which was populated from doing that PowerShell Export. So I basically on my Admin Machine dragged and dropped the shortcut applied by GPO onto the StartMenu and then Exported them :-)

 

 

Hope this helps

 

--

EDIT: %CommonStartMenuDir% is All Users Start Menu when you make the shortcut

Edited October 12, 2016 by datar_

[ass17]

Thanks, that is what I have tried to do but I have never once got it to apply a custom layout via GPO.

 

My steps were to login as local admin, customise the layout the powershell export the file and set it in the GPO.

 

Do I have to import it back in after export or is this step just for the default profile layout?

[datar_]

I use the following policy in the Windows 10 ADMX

User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Start Layout

 

Enabled the policy using that XML file in a public location, i.e. \\domain.name\netlogon\win10\startmenu.xml

 

This applies that XML file to the user as they logon, OR should do. I have started having a couple issues recently where this hasn't been applying. Could be a slow-link thing on my end however

[ass17]

I put the xml file in the netlogon folder but still doesn't apply, I even tried setting the registry entry for startmenulayoutfile as a GPO registry, doesn't apply that either

[datar_]

Have you had a quick mooch in Event Viewer to see if there is a problem applying the Start Layout. (Yet to do this myself)

 

I seem to remember when I was experimenting with this last year that the StartMenu wouldn't apply if there was an error.

[ass17]

Will check it out after lunch

[thimon]

I found it came down to permissions when mine wouldn't apply. It's saved in a shared folder students don't have access to but I've set permissions on the actual xml so "Everyone" has full control. On a side note I've only this week now set it as a partial layout, so the icons in the xml file are fixed whilst allowing users to pin their own items to the start menu as well.

[datar_]

I found it came down to permissions when mine wouldn't apply. It's saved in a shared folder students don't have access to but I've set permissions on the actual xml so "Everyone" has full control. On a side note I've only this week now set it as a partial layout, so the icons in the xml file are fixed whilst allowing users to pin their own items to the start menu as well.

 

Ooh Partial, This is what I would like to do for Staff. I'd like to give that a go at some point

[thimon]

You need to change the section near the top of the xml file. So you end up with

[thimon]

No space between the G and r in Groups at the end. EduGeek being weird, or may be appearing like that for just me :s

[datar_]

So what I could have is two XML files, one for Pupils, one for Staff.

 

The Staff one having this restriction lifted which would then allow them to alter the rest of the start menu

 

I like the sound of this

[thimon]

We did think about that, NM isn't too fused about students pinning their own tiles to the start menu. We've removed pretty much anything that would be of interest to them (games, etc) Edited October 12, 2016 by thimon

[datar_]

I tell you what, I do like the little padlock

[ass17]

Had a further play and sorry but no joy still looks pants! Is there any way not to have a layout and just a start menu? I know once you have deleted all the tiles you can resize the layout to only display the start menu.

[thimon]

You've said only settings and Edge are showing, what other tiles are missing?

[ass17]

In my layout I put in one tile to a folder path on a shared area for everyone.

 

Don't know where settings and edge are coming from but they are not in the custom layout xml file

[thimon]

I found that file explorer shortcuts didn't place nice at all. I've got edge, chrome, the whole office suite, vlc and sims.