How to Customize the Windows 10 Start Menu/Desktop with Group Policy

[Dan_ATR]

HOW!!!!

 

I have read all of https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/itpro/windows/configure/customize-windows-10-start-screens-by-using-group-policy?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

and https://www.petri.com/how-to-use-and-customize-the-windows-10-start-menu

and all this goof https://winpeguy.wordpress.com/2015/12/09/win10-start-menu-cleanup-using-defaultlayouts-xml/

 

and much more.... but im still "WHAT THE!!!"

 

All I want to do is put in a new wall paper, and deselect some check boxes...

 

[CapnPugwash]

We've just started rolling out a few Win 10 laptops, the GPO that pushed out the desktop background to our Win 7 machines, pushes it out to the laptops with no tinkering needed.

 

We've also customised the start menu / tiles with a GPO & an .xml file & that works fine. To set that up I probably followed one of the links you posted (or something similar)

 

Sounds like you are trying to do a bunch of things all at once, starting with your problem with changing the wallpaper (you do mean the desktop background? Just want to make sure we are talking about the same thing)

 

(a) How are you trying to do it

(b) How is it not working - what is happening? (no change to desktop? black screen?)

[Dan_ATR]

Thats the problem. I used the original GPO for windows 7 and nothing seems to work with windows 10 despite having the latest GPOs from january on in the policy definitions.

 

For example, the desktop picture. Still shows the standard widnows 10 picture.

[Arthur]

For example, the desktop picture. Still shows the standard widnows 10 picture.

That's a bug in 1703.

 

despite having the latest GPOs from january on in the policy definitions.

There are some newer GPO templates now (released this week).

[Dan_ATR]

Do you by any chance have the URL for this please?

 

Also I amd running Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB version 1607.

 

[Dan_ATR]

Also, these are the GPOs that I downloaded..

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=53430

[Dan_ATR]

As you can see I am pointing to my custom image but no go.

 

 

Not only that, the "Remove Notifications and Action Center" does not work either. It works well on my test 2016 server.

 

PS, I have just removed the start layout to no effect.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Dan_ATR

[CapnPugwash]

Is the GPO definitely being applied?

Any error messages in the event viewer?

 

Our GPO looks a bit like this

 

User Configuration

Admin Templates / Desktop / Desktop

Allow only bitmapped wallpaper = enabled

Desktop Wallpaper - path to wallpaper (c:\myDesktop.bmp)

Enable Active Desktop = enabled

 

Preferences

Windows settings / Registry

HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop Wallpaper\c:\myDesktop.bmp

 

**

 

I don't know why we ended up dropping the path in twice, all I know is it works and has done for years. We also have a Computer / Startup script as part of this GPO, a simple one line bat file 'xcopy \\networkShare\myDesktop.bmp c:\windows /d'

 

This copies the myDesktop.bmp file across if (a) it isn't already on the C drive or (b) it is on the C drive but the version of it is older than the one in the \\networkShare

 

Like I say, working on Win7 machines for a couple of years. Plugged in some win 10 laptops (W10 EDU 1607) & it worked straight away.

[Dan_ATR]

Nope, still no good... im lost...

[Dan_ATR]

I give up. Im using GB info now to fill the desktop image. But still does not resolve the other issues :/

[CapnPugwash]

Just out of interest : Is the GPO definitely being applied? (How are you checking this) Any error messages in the event viewer?

 

Is your desktop GPO similar to mine or have you used a different approach? (I probably cribbed mine from something someone posted on this forum)

[Dan_ATR]

Bl***** ****** got it working. Dam WMI filter was messing it up despite it working fine for a while. Ill look into that.

[Dan_ATR]

Ah, no its not the WMI filter. its the security... If you take out authenticated users and only have my domain staff standard user group it then dies...

[computer_expert]

Ah, no its not the WMI filter. its the security... If you take out authenticated users and only have my domain staff standard user group it then dies...

 

You'll need to allow authenticated users to read (but not apply) the group policy

[Dan_ATR]

You'll need to allow authenticated users to read (but not apply) the group policy

 

Perfect.... I read it up. Made the changes... and... wait for it... nope... grrrr....

It definetly is down to that update and the security on the GPOs. doing a gp result shows nothing being pushed through for a user policy.

[Dan_ATR]

So correct me if I am wrong.... I need to have authenticated users added as well as my group with the users specified. I made the authenticated users read only and stil I have the issues. But if i add the authenicated users to apply the policy as well it some what brakes my entire GP structure.

 

Edited April 18, 2017 by Dan_ATR

[Dan_ATR]

ok, got it half working.... still ongoing.... the stupid GPO was unlinked from Thursday from when I was last looking at it. But now other things that were working have now stopped... im going crazy here...

[Dan_ATR]

sorted....