Disable WIndows 10 Apps but still allow Calculator

[ITGURU]

I have a policy in place to disable the Apps on the start menu, but i've been advised that the calculator doesn't work.

When i go to launch it i get the error below, removing all policies doesnt restore access.

 

However, if i do a clean install of Windows 10 without any policies applied, the calculator works fine for all users.

 

It appears whatever the policy is that breaks it, when all policies are removed, it leaves it broken.

 

Can anyone help me restore access?

 

Thanks.

[Localtechie]

We just installed the old one from windows 7 as have a complete blanket ban on metro apps:

 

Old Windows 7 Calculator for Windows 10

[Localtechie]

We just installed the old one from windows 7 as have a complete blanket ban on metro apps:

 

Old Windows 7 Calculator for Windows 10

[ITGURU]

We just installed the old one from windows 7 as have a complete blanket ban on metro apps:

 

Old Windows 7 Calculator for Windows 10

 

Thanks, did find that post, just made it into an msi for testing deployment to existing PCs that have already been updated.

[ITGURU]

We just installed the old one from windows 7 as have a complete blanket ban on metro apps:

 

Old Windows 7 Calculator for Windows 10

 

Thanks, did find that post, just made it into an msi for testing deployment to existing PCs that have already been updated.

[Chuckster]

Can I butt in and unashamedly request the MSI, please? Saves me having to create one

[Chuckster]

Can I butt in and unashamedly request the MSI, please? Saves me having to create one

[ITGURU]

Can I butt in and unashamedly request the MSI, please? Saves me having to create one

 

The one I made doesn't seem to deploy through GPO but works when run on the machine manually logged in.

[ITGURU]

Can I butt in and unashamedly request the MSI, please? Saves me having to create one

 

The one I made doesn't seem to deploy through GPO but works when run on the machine manually logged in.

[Duke5A]

I just deleted the 'calc.exe' place holder executable in system32 and replaced it with the one from Windows XP in my base image. Worked like a charm.

[ITGURU]

Has anyone made a working MSI for this yet? I tried replacing the file in system32 but would allow me to due to permissions?

Ultimately i need to write a script or have some way of getting calculator working on the 100+ machines already deployed.

Thanks in advance.

[Chuckster]

How about something at startup...

 

 @echo OFF

IF EXIST "C:\Windows\System32\calc1.exe" goto _End

"\\Servername\Applications$\Old Calculator for Windows 10\Old Calculator for Windows 10.exe" /s

:_End

 

That said, the silent install didn't work for me and I've yet to get around to making an MSI.

[Duke5A]

Has anyone made a working MSI for this yet? I tried replacing the file in system32 but would allow me to due to permissions?

Ultimately i need to write a script or have some way of getting calculator working on the 100+ machines already deployed.

Thanks in advance.

 

It isn't going to let you without first taking ownership and giving yourself write access. To script it you'll need to use 'takeown' and 'cacls' to make those changes.

 

Or instead of messing with replacing the exe in system32 you could just use GPP to copy the Windows XP calculator executable into Program Files somewhere and create a link to in the Start Menu. No scripting needed.

[ITGURU]

It isn't going to let you without first taking ownership and giving yourself write access. To script it you'll need to use 'takeown' and 'cacls' to make those changes.

 

Or instead of messing with replacing the exe in system32 you could just use GPP to copy the Windows XP calculator executable into Program Files somewhere and create a link to in the Start Menu. No scripting needed.

 

i did try copying the exe to system32 and creating a shortcut on the desktop, but it wouldnt launch when double clicked on it.

[kidpressingbuttons]

Did anyone happen to make an MSI in the end?

 

Got the script running silently in the end!

Edited June 24, 2020 by kidpressingbuttons