[1703, cu] Successfully deploying Start Menus in Windows 10 v1703

[Mr_Jiminy]

We've been using task sequence to remove apps, however I'm keen to strip apps out of wim file... Was this method done using DISM?

 

If so, is this the DISM method?

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1548590-dism-to-remove-win10-appx-apps-from-wim

Edited September 4, 2017 by Mr_Jiminy

[LemonEntry]

We've been using task sequence to remove apps, however I'm keen to strip apps out of wim file... Was this method done using DISM?

 

If so, is this the DISM method?

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1548590-dism-to-remove-win10-appx-apps-from-wim

 

It's *a* DISM method. You can pull them out manually after mounting the WIM, or you can script it as in this example.

[Arthur]

I ran that script on my image and it removed Media player, which i want. I can't find media player in the app list to get it back. How odd.

I have found a way to add WMP back should you still need it?

 

Download the "Features on Demand" ISO from VLSC for your Windows 10 edition and architecture. For 1703 (x64) that would be: SW_DVD9_NTRL_Win_10_1703_64Bit_MultiLang_FOD_1_X21-35556.iso.

 

Mount the ISO and copy Microsoft-Windows-MediaPlayer-Package.cab to a suitable location. Save the PowerShell script below to the same folder and run it.

 

#Requires –Version 5.0
#Requires -RunAsAdministrator
$ScriptDir = $PSScriptRoot

if ((Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object Name -match "Media.WindowsMediaPlayer").State -eq "NotPresent") {

   try {
       Write-Output "Installing Windows Media Player"
       Add-WindowsPackage -Online -PackagePath "$ScriptDir\Microsoft-Windows-MediaPlayer-Package.cab" -ErrorAction Stop
   }
   catch [system.Exception] {
       Write-Warning -Message $_.Exception.Message
   }

}

[Patrick]

Thanks but i'd made a few mistakes with the image (learning process i guess!) so i started a new one with an edu image. It's kind of on the back burner at the minute as i'm just firefighting since we came back from summer break.

[ReadTheNetwork]

I don't think Windows 10 is bundled with Media Player or they are not supporting it? I've just been putting VLC on for them to use.

- Or maybe it's just Windows Media Center that's not included. However, I think either way Microsoft are trying to move away from playing DVDs.

Edited October 16, 2017 by ReadTheNetwork

[Arthur]

I don't think Windows 10 is bundled with Media Player or they are not supporting it?

WMP is still included with Windows 10.

 

https://betanews.com/2017/10/09/windows-10-update-removes-windows-media-player

 

[update] A Microsoft spokesman has good news for users of Windows Media Player:

 

We are aware of and investigating a bug in a Windows Insider build that is preventing access to Windows Media Player. We do not have plans to remove the Windows Media Player from Windows 10.

 

I've just been putting VLC on for them to use.

Me too.

[jmak]

I've been running @Arthur's excellent CandyCrusher script to strip unwanted apps out of the Win 10 ISO and then building a "Golden Image" in a VM, but am running into issues with sysprep. If I used a PowerShell script as per @LemonEntry's recommendation in this thread, does that remove the need to sysprep in the Task Sequence? Does running the script at deployment stage make the deployment take longer?

 

Slightly off topic; the reason I build an image in a VM is that I install a few large applications (Office and Smart Notebook) and also install Window updates quite regularly and then re-capture. I've seen that some people script that as well. Given how long they take to install, does that not make the deployment much longer too?

 

Thanks in advance

[ReadTheNetwork]

Hi jmak,

You can do Windows updates directly to the image without needing to recapture your image and you can do this every so many days without user involvement. This should save you some time and effort .

Are you using SCCM/MDT, MDT or different imaging solution?

If it's SCCM you can just right click your OS and select schedule updates.

[ITGuyNW]

Quick question... If you roll everything out, perfect start menu etc but then a few days later you deploy an app and you need to add the shortcut of that app to your new perfect start menu, how do you do that quickly and easily?

 

Do you have to go back to your test image, recreate your start menu and deploy it out? Is there an easier way?

[ReadTheNetwork]

I usually deploy the applications using App 5. I run through the App-V creation then after the install I set up the start menu as I'd like it to be deployed as.

Or usually there's a start menu property to help deployments using silent commands for exe or msi.

[gh5000]

Can I ask why the following might not be showing as a tile. Just getting a blank space. The shortcut is in the folder and is showing on the start menu on the left. Just not as a tile

[ReadTheNetwork]

DId you copy and paste> There's a gap in microsoft?!

[gh5000]

DId you copy and paste> There's a gap in microsoft?!

 

Sorry, just a typo in my post

 

These are the three that aren't showing up.

[gh5000]

Don't know why the post is putting the space in but it definitely isn't in there when I edit. The smiley I can understand.

[ReadTheNetwork]

is it url or lnk?

Try making it into a lnk?!

Edited December 15, 2017 by ReadTheNetwork

[sparkeh]

Can I ask why the following might not be showing as a tile. Just getting a blank space. The shortcut is in the folder and is showing on the start menu on the left. Just not as a tile

Yeah you need to use the DesktopApplicationID attribute rather than DesktopApplicationLinkPath and use the Application ID.

 

So if you run the Powershell command 'get-startapps' you can see all the Application IDs of all the start menu items. For URLs its actually just the URL itself.

 

So I would expect the line you need is actually:

[gh5000]

Thanks I had missed that. It is a .url file but going back to the OP's instructions and example XML I should have URLs as

[gh5000]

Cheers @sparkeh - had just figured out what your instructions were getting at. Thanks all for the help. Bring on the coffee.

[ReadTheNetwork]

I couldn't remember the correct code for URLs and @sparkeh beat me .

[Bedders]

I've got Chrome installing via Group Policy, and the Start Menu layout was exported (although modified heavily using Notepad++ since).

However this tile is not appearing (there's a blank space in the Start Menu). I've verified that the .lnk does exist, and the last modified date is when Chrome was first installed shortly after I imaged the machine, so I know that the shortcut is there when the local user profile is created by Windows.

 

Windows 10 Pro x64 1703.

 

Some of the tiles are appearing and some aren't. Full XML below.

 

I would greatly appreciate a pointer in the right direction, and hopefully it will help someone else who may be having this issue.

 

Lock Computer, Log Off and Shutdown Computer are also not appearing. They are created correctly using the 'Shortcut' section of GPO and appear in the Start Menu. I can post that GPO as well should it be required.

 

[ReadTheNetwork]

Try changing the path from

Start Menu\Lock Computer.lnk

to

Start Menu\Programs\Lock Computer.lnk

[Bedders]

Try changing the path from

Start Menu\Lock Computer.lnk

to

Start Menu\Programs\Lock Computer.lnk

 

Hi ReadTheNetwork,

 

Thanks for assisting. Please could you clarify what you expect to happen when I make this change? The "Lock Computer.lnk" path is correct in my current XML file and works when I navigate to that file manually in Explorer. Does changing the path and adding "\Programs" do something that I am unaware of?

 

Edit:

 

This is the Start Menu folder (navigated to using the "%AllUsersProfile%" path in Explorer, rather than "C:\Windows\...")

 

 

Edited December 18, 2017 by Bedders

[ReadTheNetwork]

Sorry try moving the Start Menu\Lock Computer.lnk to Start Menu\Programs\Lock Computer.lnk then update the location on your XML. I don't think it works directly in the Start Menu location, think it needs to be in Programs.

[Bedders]

Sorry try moving the Start Menu\Lock Computer.lnk to Start Menu\Programs\Lock Computer.lnk then update the location on your XML. I don't think it works directly in the Start Menu location, think it needs to be in Programs.

 

Ah, thanks for clarifying - I was confused at first! Cheers

 

I've changed the GPO so that instead of creating the shortcuts, it now copies them from my NETLOGON folder into "\Start Menu\Programs". I'll edit this post when I see if it works (my Windows 10 test machine is currently installing updates, so it's likely to be tomorrow).

[ReadTheNetwork]

No worries, I've been running in and out of my office so that's why it was unclear .

Nearly Christmas :-D