Callum Posted July 4, 2018 Posted July 4, 2018 We are creating a Windows 10 environment and we're trying to create a redirected start menu for students and staff. The redirection in Group Policy works fine (our custom shortcuts show up), but it seems it's impossible to remove some of the default apps, including: Alarms & Clock Calculator Camera Connect Cortana Microsoft Edge Microsoft Store Mixed Reality Portal My Office Paint 3D Photos Settings Voice Recorder Windows Defender Security Center The policy "Remove common program groups from Start Menu" is enforced, but this doesn't seem to help. Does anybody know how we can completely clear the app list in the Start Menu, so only our custom shortcuts show?
Oaktech Posted July 4, 2018 Posted July 4, 2018 Have a search... this has been done to death and you are way late to the party!
Callum Posted July 5, 2018 Author Posted July 5, 2018 Apologies, but I have spent days searching the web for an answer. Every thread I come across either has no response, or gives a random, irrelevant answer such as completely uninstalling apps.
3s-gtech Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 a random, irrelevant answer such as completely uninstalling apps. Not irrelevant, I'm afraid. You either remove them entirely, or they're there in the menu. Those are the options you face. You can't strictly control the contents of the Start Menu like you could on 7 and earlier.
PyROm Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 Look at classic start menu, part of classic shell, works well for us and comes with own gpo's.
3s-gtech Posted July 5, 2018 Posted July 5, 2018 Look at classic start menu, part of classic shell, works well for us and comes with own gpo's. I would advise against this, going forward, as it's no longer developed and you may find it stops working with newer builds of 10.
Callum Posted July 6, 2018 Author Posted July 6, 2018 Well, thank you all for the replies. I guess we will just have to embrace the Mixed Reality Portal, and Windows Store, etc. Maybe Microsoft forgot that schools and businesses exist. 1
AXE Posted July 6, 2018 Posted July 6, 2018 Indeed. It's annoying that they're still there. But they can be blocked with AppLocker. 1
Driftingashore Posted July 8, 2018 Posted July 8, 2018 FWIW you can uninstall most of the apps (I think you're stuck with one or two) via DISM on your install image - though it's a bit tedious https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/123554-removing-apps-from-windows-10-media Or you can use a powershell script: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1777896-remove-pre-installed-apps-from-the-windows-10-all-apps-menu I'm sure you can do your own googling, but this drove me crazy, so thought I'd share
Guest Guest Posted July 8, 2018 Posted July 8, 2018 I had exactly the same issue when building our policies for Windows 10 recently. I'm not sure what but something in the GPO shared here http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-10/190996-cheeky-request-stealing-gpos.html seems to have resolved this for me
free780 Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 Some of the apps E.G Microsoft Edge are system level provisioned apps. They do install per user. Check %userprofile%\appdata\local\packages The shortcuts are added to the database the start menu uses. Some can be deleted from %userprofile%\appdata\roaming\microsoft\windows\start menu\programs I don't think you can do it for edge,settings etc. Microsoft is pushing the store platform in Windows 10.
maark Posted July 9, 2018 Posted July 9, 2018 classic shell caused me problems with win 10 freezing unfortunately so be careful. also if you block cortana with applocker this can cause problems with start menu not responding first time you click on it. welcome to the wonderful word of windows 10 - if only i could forget Microsoft and get in chromebooks
supportman Posted July 10, 2018 Posted July 10, 2018 classic shell caused me problems with win 10 freezing unfortunately so be careful. also if you block cortana with applocker this can cause problems with start menu not responding first time you click on it. welcome to the wonderful word of windows 10 - if only i could forget Microsoft and get in chromebooks I was speaking to a Canadian Teacher friend the other day and he couldn't believe we use Windows 10 in education in the UK. They moved over to Chromebooks a few years ago over the pond and haven't looked back. I'm currently struggling with Classic Menu or Windows 10 idiocy...
supportman Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 (edited) I'm having a similar problem now, I have purchased NTLite app and removed most of the things from the start menu now. Any ideas how I remove items that are left? - Calendar - Connect - Cortana - Mixed Reality Viewer - Movies & TV - Mobile Plans - Settings - Voice Recorder - Windows Accessories - Windows Defender Security Center - Microsoft Store Edited July 11, 2018 by supportman
gmonks Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 I'm having a similar problem now, I have purchased NTLite app and removed most of the things from the start menu now. Any ideas how I remove items that are left? - Calendar - Connect - Cortana - Mixed Reality Viewer - Movies & TV - Mobile Plans - Settings - Voice Recorder - Windows Accessories - Windows Defender Security Center - Microsoft Store Cortana is via Applocker to remove completely, but also, Group Policy – Computer Configuration – Policies – Administrative Templates – Windows Components – Search – Allow Cortana – Disabled 1
supportman Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 Cortana is via Applocker to remove completely, but also, Group Policy – Computer Configuration – Policies – Administrative Templates – Windows Components – Search – Allow Cortana – Disabled Thanks, but setting that in GP still keeps it on the start menu as far as I can see. We don't have applocker as using 2008 R2 DC's. I managed to remove Calendar,Mixed Reality Viewer, Voice Recorder, Windows Accessories, Movies & TV with the PowerShell scripts here: And with by turning off "windows consumer features" in Group Policy So now I am still stuck with: - Connect - Cortana - Settings - Windows Defender Security Center - Microsoft Store The Microsoft Store is the big one, not sure how to disable that completely??
gmonks Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 Thanks, but setting that in GP still keeps it on the start menu as far as I can see. We don't have applocker as using 2008 R2 DC's. I managed to remove Calendar,Mixed Reality Viewer, Voice Recorder, Windows Accessories, Movies & TV with the PowerShell scripts here: And with by turning off "windows consumer features" in Group Policy So now I am still stuck with: - Connect - Cortana - Settings - Windows Defender Security Center - Microsoft Store The Microsoft Store is the big one, not sure how to disable that completely?? You can turn off web search: Group Policy – Computer Configuration – Policies – Administrative Templates – Windows Components – Search – Don’t search the web or display web results in Search - Enabled Then to remove the search icon you can right click on it and go to Search - Hidden But not sure how to remove for every user... Disable Windows Store: Group Policy – Computer Configuration – Policies – Administrative Templates – Windows Components – Store – Turn off Store application – Enabled 1
BOOT Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 Use Group Policy to set deny read permissions for a group of users on the corresponding sub-key in: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\PackageRepository\Packages\ "Connect" app for example: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\PackageRepository\Packages\Microsoft.PPIProjection_10.0.16299.15_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy 2
dayzd Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 ...to remove the search icon you can right click on it and go to Search - Hidden But not sure how to remove for every user... I have notes about a registry key for this: Control Search box/icon in taskbar. 0 - Hide icon and box 1 - Show icon (magnifying glass) 2 - Show full search box ----------------------------------- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search SearchboxTaskbarMode REG_DWORD 0 https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/ie/en-US/af677b8e-f30d-4fbc-a3b7-cd70c001c89f/windows-10-remove-cortanasearch-box-from-task-bar-via-gpo-for-osd#730136bb-c29a-4c3e-a095-34093de18821 I don't recall that I've tested it, though, so it may not actually work. I'd say the chances are slim, given that post is over 2.5 years old!
dayzd Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 (edited) So now I am still stuck with: ... - Settings ... I don't know if you can remove Settings completely, but you can control with a reasonable level of detail what settings it actually shows via GPO: Computer \ Policies \ Administrative Templates \ Control Panel \ Settings Page Visibility How to use: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/configure-windows-10-settings-visibility-hide-select-settings Strings: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/launch-resume/launch-settings-app https://winaero.com/blog/how-to-open-various-settings-pages-directly-in-windows-10/ Edited July 11, 2018 by dayzd
supportman Posted July 11, 2018 Posted July 11, 2018 Thanks guys, I even found a new Group Policy for the windows store in 1803 called "Disable all apps from the Windows store" which seems to work well. I've managed to disable the "Settings" app, but the label remains on the start menu. Same with Cortana and Windows Defender. Getting there anyway...
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