[1703, cu] XML Start Menu empty

[LemonEntry]

I've created a Staff and Student XML Start Layout which pulls shortcuts from %ALLUSERSPROFILE% and %APPDATA%. When applied through GPO these Layouts are not applied, despite the relevent policy reported successfully applied in gpresult. Permissions on the XML location (SYSVOL subdirectory) and both locations above are verified correct (can browse and read the XML file and path contents as logged in Staff / Student user).

 

Any ideas on why it's not applying correctly? Any other policies which could conflict with this Layout option?

[LemonEntry]

I've just realised... These shortcuts are local and won't be available to other clients on the network. I'll have to make it all again with shortcuts stored elsewhere, won't I?

 

 

Edit: Plus, the explorer icon doesn't display between the User and Settings icons!

Edited July 27, 2017 by LemonEntry

[LemonEntry]

Wait... That's the way it's meant to work in 1703, right? If the app is installed locally then it will be pinned to Start. Should I be pinning applications directly, or their icons from the Start Menu when I'm creating the Layout XML?

 

I'm so confused.

[LemonEntry]

 

Oh what the hell is this...

 

Friday can't come soon enough.

[Arthur]

Oh what the hell is this...

It looks like you have the same shortcuts in more than one of the folders below.

 

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

[LemonEntry]

It looks like you have the same shortcuts in more than one of the folders below.

 

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

 

On restart, icons in %AppData% subdir are returned to default, ProgramData subdir are blank. I've a policy somewhere that is screwing up my Start Menu...

[LemonEntry]

And where, for the love of all that is holy, is that Explorer icon?! It's not even in the XML...

 

Everything works except the Start Menu. I can't even.

[win]

I have the same problem! Explorer icon should be in "Windows System". But after using the XML via GPO there is no explorer. I pinned it to the tiles area on my exported version, but there are no tiles at all. The programs are showing on the left side of the menu, but there is nothing on the right. "This PC" this also missing which I pinned to the start menu. CMD is missing but I actually wanted that gone anyway.

 

gp result shows the correct policy, and copy & paste on the XML actually displays the XML file so path and permissions aren't the issue. There are so many problems with the start menu posted on edugeek and other websites which shows it is a poor offering from MS.

[skell]

Here is our current start menu and taskbar, if that helps. I had to add File Explorer, Internet Explorer and Notepad into the all users start menu.

 

    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
   xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
   xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
   xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
   Version="1">  

 
   
     
       
         
         
         
         
         
       
       
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
       
       
         
	  
         
       
     
   
 
 
     
       
         
	  
	  
	  
	  
	  
	  
         
       
     
   

Looks like this

 

 

Hope that helps!

Edited August 2, 2017 by skell

[win]

After copy and pasting the above I can see the words "Useful Programs" and "Browsers", but there are no tiles except calculator and paint3D

 

For unknown reasons it is not picking up office, chrome, or the other programs. But at least i know it is seeing the XML!

 

This is using 1703 edu, x64, with a roaming profile

[LemonEntry]

It all depends on which application shortcuts exist in the path specified in the XML file: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\

 

If you currently redirect the start menu it is likely that you won't see many tiles at all, except for the Metro apps you've listed (Which are always available in Start, if installed. I hate you, Microsoft).

[sparkeh]

The MS guide that I reading stated that this doesn't work with either roaming profiles or redirected start menus. I'll dig out the link but yeah I've read that a few times now.

[sparkeh]

The note at the top of this article mentions roaming profiles not being supported https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/windows-10-start-layout-options-and-policies