[ltsb, 1809] Finally working Start menu XML

[Jaan]

I've finally managed to get the start menu as i want, so i thought i'd make this post to help others. Also thanks to all that help me get it sorted.

 

The main issue i had, was for the "tile" to appear correctly, the tile had to have the equivalent shortcut on my redirected start menu.

 

eg, if i wanted a link to n:\ or "this PC". i had to also have that .lnk file on my redirected start menu. see below;

 

 

Here is my .xml

 

    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">

 
   
  
	
	
	
          
         
	  
         
	  
	
       
	
	
	
         
         
	  
         
	  
	  
         
	  
         
	  
       
	
       
	
	
         
         
	  
         
	  
	
       
	
         
         
	  
         
       
	
         
         
	  
         
	  
       
     
   
 
 
   
     
       
       
     
   
 

[ComboSmith]

Hi,

 

Thanks for posting this, we have XML working okay. I was wondering how did you get your start menu redirection to work? We have tried mandatory profiles and the folder redirection GPO but nothing seems to do anything, we just get the public start menu or all users start menu no matter what. Does the redirection policy work in 1809 LTSB?

[Jaan]

Hi,

 

Thanks for posting this, we have XML working okay. I was wondering how did you get your start menu redirection to work? We have tried mandatory profiles and the folder redirection GPO but nothing seems to do anything, we just get the public start menu or all users start menu no matter what. Does the redirection policy work in 1809 LTSB?

 

it's working here. We didn't have any issues.

 

We use local profiles.

 

 

Users gpo

 

[ComboSmith]

That's the same as we have it set up. Strange, the only difference is the version of Windows, I have tried with 1803 edu but had no luck either, we are hoping to use LTSB in the long term.

 

I'm not sure on the rules surrounding this but would you be able to send me the ISO so I can test with LTB 1809? it appears to be gone from our MSVL

[Jaan]

That's the same as we have it set up. Strange, the only difference is the version of Windows, I have tried with 1803 edu but had no luck either, we are hoping to use LTSB in the long term.

 

I'm not sure on the rules surrounding this but would you be able to send me the ISO so I can test with LTB 1809? it appears to be gone from our MSVL

 

Tbh i update to 1809 when it came out..... it was working before that on older LSTB before that...... from memory, when we were testing with the edu builds, it didn't work. That with all the other tat that comes with it, made us turn to the LTSx builds.

[ComboSmith]

Very strange, thanks for your replies I will keep trying things. I have spent most of last week trying everything to get a redirected menu and it doesn't seem to work no matter what I change. Baffles me that such an important part of Windows is so unreliable

[Jaan]

Very strange, thanks for your replies I will keep trying things. I have spent most of last week trying everything to get a redirected menu and it doesn't seem to work no matter what I change. Baffles me that such an important part of Windows is so unreliable

 

until i switched to the LTSx builds, i found it very hit and miss.... just my experience of it though. other have been fine.

[Sheridan]

I've never managed to get a link to 'This PC' to work on my tile layout. I've done the same thing, put a shortcut on a network share and point to that in the xml, but it generally just doesn't appear - very rarely it will appear, but several tiles over from where it should be!

 

Another reason I'm building an LTSC 2019 image next

[Jaan]

I've never managed to get a link to 'This PC' to work on my tile layout. I've done the same thing, put a shortcut on a network share and point to that in the xml, but it generally just doesn't appear - very rarely it will appear, but several tiles over from where it should be!

 

Another reason I'm building an LTSC 2019 image next

 

I find the LTSC isn't without it's issues (kinda like 10 as a whole really), but i find it better to get the way i want it.

 

Once i'm happy, i'm planning of posting a thread about how i have mine locked down on LTSC and what gpo/reg settings i've used. Just to help others.

 

I'm been trying to get WIN10 the way i want now for 3weeks!

Edited November 12, 2018 by Jaan

[ComboSmith]

If you run RSOP.MSC on a machine / user with a redirected start menu does the folder redirection policy have anything in it? I have checked this on our test user and it appears empty, even though desktop redirection is working fine.

[Jaan]

If you run RSOP.MSC on a machine / user with a redirected start menu does the folder redirection policy have anything in it? I have checked this on our test user and it appears empty, even though desktop redirection is working fine.

 

"Redirected start menu" is also absent from the list on my machines when running rsop. But like you say..... works fine.

[ComboSmith]

I am just going to wait out for the 1809 LTSC release, hopefully we will have more luck there. Thanks for your replies

[Jaan]

I am just going to wait out for the 1809 LTSC release, hopefully we will have more luck there. Thanks for your replies

 

I'm running 1809 LTSC

[ComboSmith]

As far as I know 1809 was recalled and with it the LTSC version, we can't find it on the MSVL for download although I have heard rumours it will be available tomorrow? Fingers crossed

[Jaan]

As far as I know 1809 was recalled and with it the LTSC version, we can't find it on the MSVL for download although I have heard rumours it will be available tomorrow? Fingers crossed

 

Yeah, i started development here before it was pulled.

[Hiran]

Hi jahilton2002,

 

How did you get the start menu folders (i.e ict, office 2016) please? ATM, I can change the start menu tiles but would prefer folders too.

[ComboSmith]

How did you get the start menu folders (i.e ict, office 2016) please? ATM, I can change the start menu tiles but would prefer folders too.

 

There are some screenshots on the previous page showing the GPOs, unfortunately these haven't worked for us across a bunch of Windows 10 builds but maybe you will have more luck. Redirecting Windows 10 start menus seems to be extremely finicky, we've had no luck at all with any methods.

[Jaan]

Hi jahilton2002,

 

How did you get the start menu folders (i.e ict, office 2016) please? ATM, I can change the start menu tiles but would prefer folders too.

 

By redirecting the start menu.

 

see post #3

 

You need to have a network share with the relevant shortcuts.

 

a screenshot;

 

[ComboSmith]

What are the permissions like on the share and on the folders? Clutching at straws here

[Jaan]

It's the "user start menus" that is shared.

 

Everyone can;

 

read & execute

List folders

Read

 

share is: \\domain\user start menus$\Win10\Teachers (for teachers)

\\domain\user start menus$\Win10\Students (for students)

 

 

The share name does actually have $ in....... the physical folder doesn't.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Jaan

[Hiran]

Thank you but I can still Windows 10 apps. Please see attached.

 

[Jaan]

Ah right.... yeah i'm running LTSC.... so no apps for me!

 

there's a few GPO the might help you.... remove consumer experience rings a bell.

[Jaan]

Here's my start menu GPO..... however like i say i'm LTSC so some are already removed.

 

"remove common programs" might be the one you want

 

[Hiran]

Makes sense, I have "remove common programs" enabled but still no joy unfortunately. Hopefully, I work this out soon.

[ComboSmith]

Thanks again for your replies, still no joy unfortuantely with even the most lenient of permissions