Custom Windows 10 Start Layout Not Showing 2 Tiles - Why?

[ronnoco]

Hello all,

 

I have built a Windows 10 image running LTSB and got all group policies working. Everything is fine except the Start Layout

 

 

The Start Layout simply needs a few tiles and for now, all I need is RDP, IE11 and another piece of Software that is installed.

 

 

I created a new user account, set the layout and exported with Powershell and tried setting it locally and through Group Policy on both of these:

 

 

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar Start Layout

 

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Start Layout

 

 

The Start menu works as I can see the RDP tile but there is just a blank space where the other 2 should be. Why is this? Do I need to adjust the cell spacing? Why does it work for the user I have set it with and no others?

 

 

Also, this customises the tiles but can the Start Menu still be re-directed via Group Policy like it could in Windows 7?

 

 

Here is a copy of the XML. Thanks very much in advance for any help.

 

 

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Edited November 2, 2018 by ronnoco

[sonofsanta]

Redirection still works, yes, redirects all the stuff under All Programs. You'll still get all the silly UWP apps (like Mixed Reality Viewer) appearing in there though, so don't send yourself in circles trying to get rid of them: you won't.

 

As to missing tiles: you need the shortcuts to also exist in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ before the XML file will deign to include them. I generally had more success using DesktopApplicationID="" than DesktopApplicationLinkPath="" too, even though the XML gets generated with the latter; e.g. it works better to use

DesktopApplicationID="C:\Program Files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe"

than

DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Wi ndows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk"

 

Note that, even if you're using DesktopApplicationID, you still need a shortcut file appearing in the local folder. Even though you never reference that shortcut directly, Windows will automatically check that location and use that shortcut, matching it via target.

 

Yes, this is all very confusing and unnecessarily complicated.

Edited November 2, 2018 by sonofsanta

[Arthur]

exported with Powershell

When exporting the Start Layout use the new -UseDesktopApplicationID parameter.

 

Note. The latest LTSC version of Windows 10 will support this parameter, but not the 1607 version.

 

(+ what @sonofsanta said above. )

Edited November 2, 2018 by Arthur

[ronnoco]

Redirection still works, yes, redirects all the stuff under All Programs. You'll still get all the silly UWP apps (like Mixed Reality Viewer) appearing in there though, so don't send yourself in circles trying to get rid of them: you won't.

 

As to missing tiles: you need the shortcuts to also exist in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ before the XML file will deign to include them. I generally had more success using DesktopApplicationID="" than DesktopApplicationLinkPath="" too, even though the XML gets generated with the latter; e.g. it works better to use

 

than

 

 

Note that, even if you're using DesktopApplicationID, you still need a shortcut file appearing in the local folder. Even though you never reference that shortcut directly, Windows will automatically check that location and use that shortcut, matching it via target.

 

Yes, this is all very confusing and unnecessarily complicated.

 

Thanks for this, much appreciated. I added the shortcuts, IE is now showing which is great but i'm still missing Cleric.

 

I tried changing to DesktopApplicationID but still not showing.

Edited November 2, 2018 by ronnoco

[ronnoco]

When exporting the Start Layout use the new -UseDesktopApplicationID parameter.

 

Note. The latest LTSC version of Windows 10 will support this parameter, but not the 1607 version.

 

(+ what @sonofsanta said above. )

 

Hi Arthur, thanks for replying. Sorry, i'm quiet the novice with Powershell. This is what I am using to export:

 

export-startlayout -path C:\startlayout.xml

 

Can you tell me what needs changing?

 

Cheers

[Arthur]

Can you tell me what needs changing?

Try this...

 

Export-StartLayout -Path C:\StartLayout.xml -UseDesktopApplicationID

 

Are you using Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 (v1809) or Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 (v1607)?

[ronnoco]

Thank you both very much, it's working now. In a rush to try I missed what sonofsanta said - when I went back and changed from %APPDATA% to C:\Program Files.... it worked straight away.

 

I'll keep a note of the command for next time I export.

 

Cheers guys!

[Jaan]

Sorry to thread hijack, anybody managed to use "nested" tiles yet?

 

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2129093-xml-example-for-nested-tiles-in-windows-10-start-menu