Different redirected start menu for 32 bit and 64 bit

[neonetman]

We are currently running Windows 7 32 bit across the board, with redirected start menus. We are looking at, as we replace machines, replacing them with 64 bit Windows.

 

The proble we have is that a lot of the software shortcuts are different on 64bit machines. Is there a way to redirect the start menu differently depending on the machine in use?

 

 

I know this can be done with GPP but I can't find a way it GPO

[3s-gtech]

You can do it with GPO by linking the policy to a WMI filter - create two, one for each architecture:

 

x86

Select AddressWidth from Win32_Processor where (AddressWidth=”32″)

 

x64

Select AddressWidth from Win32_Processor where (AddressWidth=”64″)

[Guest obsidianpillar]

You could also do it with Loopback processing depending on how you organise your PC's within Active Directory. That's the way we do it here, although do not propose for it to be either the right or wrong way to do so.

 

Tom

[snagrat]

I did this by creating a variable %programfiles(x86)% to point to c:\Program Files on all machines through GPO.

 

Then point your shortcuts to %programfiles(x86)%\path\exe.

 

On x64 machines the %programsfiles(x86)% variable already exists and does not get written over so always points to C:\Program Files (x86).

 

The x86 machines will use the variable settings from the GPO and point to C:\Program Files.

 

Basically each architecture will always point to the x86 program files location

[neonetman]

I'm trying to get this working using WMI queries. I've currently managed to get a seperate start menu structure, which is applied against the user account. As soon as I try to add the WMI query to identify the 32/64 bit the policy stops applying with a deny reason of "False WMI Filter"

 

WMI is a new area for me, Im teaing my hair out

[neonetman]

OK - so far I've got a seperate menu structure setup and I can redirect to that using a user GPO. As soon as I add the WMI query to limit it to 64bit machines, the policy stops applying with a deny reason of "False WMI Filter".

 

I'm new to WMI so am tearing my hair out

[3s-gtech]

That sounds like it's working - you may have to flip the logic/WMI filter depending on how you've configured it.

[neonetman]

Whilst it sounds like it's working, the query "Select AddressWidth from Win32_Processor where (AddressWidth=”64″) " isn't running the GPO on either a 32 or a 64 bit PC

 

Will a test for bit size work even under a user gpo?

[3s-gtech]

Not sure - I set my Start menu redirection to a computer group (so it's particular to a PC type rather than group). It should run. Make sure that the "" around 64 aren't smart quotes in your query - they'll break (yes, the WMI query box will accept smart quotes for some reason!)

 

"Select AddressWidth from Win32_Processor where (AddressWidth="64")"

[neonetman]

Thank you @3s-gtech - it was the smartquotes. It's working properly now :-)

[ItsOggy]

I use the PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE environment variable in the UNC paths I put in the GPO, for example:

 

Redirect start menu to:

 

\\server\share\%PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%\Start Menu

 

Then I have two folders on the server:

 

\\server\share\x86\Start Menu

 

And

 

\\server\share\amd64\Start Menu