'Get Started' App

[Darylrese]

Hi all,

 

I can't seem to get rid of the built in app 'Get Started' in windows 11. It allows the user to select a category and download apps from the store, even though the store is disabled.

 

Anyone managed to get rid of it? I tried to remove it from the wim (By package name which said successful) along with other apps but unlike other apps, it remains.

 

The store is disabled, but somehow using this app, it seems to download apps like netflix and whatsapp if the user selects them.

 

It also seems to suggest it as an app for students to use (on my test account) which is holding me off deploying Windows 11 at the moment to student devices

Edited November 27, 2023 by Darylrese

[Steve21]

You can't anymore in the latest version, unlike the previous builds, it's part of one of the "feature packs" that includes things like start menu, new file explorer etc

 

There have been lots of complaints about it with a general MS response of "maybe we'll change it later"

 

Steve

[Darylrese]

You can't anymore in the latest version, unlike the previous builds, it's part of one of the "feature packs" that includes things like start menu, new file explorer etc

 

There have been lots of complaints about it with a general MS response of "maybe we'll change it later"

 

Steve

 

Thanks for letting me know! What a pain!

 

I wouldn’t mind if everything in it was blocked, but it seems to ignore the store being turned off and lets people install whatever they like! [emoji35] I know this in turn would be blocked by web filtering but even so I don’t want students installing loads of apps from this bloatware!

 

Windows 11 doesn’t seem very educational friendly compared to previous versions, think I’ll be downgrading most of our new devices to Windows 10 if they are being used by students!

Edited November 27, 2023 by Darylrese

[Steve21]

I haven't tested it yet as we're just doing our 23H2 image currently, but have you tested blocking it via AppLocker? That's my next route to attempt Then it wouldn't run even while installed.

 

With the upcoming Win10 EOL in 2025, now's a good time to test these kind of things on a few machines around the place and start making lists of things to resolve!

 

Steve

[Darylrese]

I haven't tested it yet as we're just doing our 23H2 image currently, but have you tested blocking it via AppLocker? That's my next route to attempt Then it wouldn't run even while installed.

 

With the upcoming Win10 EOL in 2025, now's a good time to test these kind of things on a few machines around the place and start making lists of things to resolve!

 

Steve

 

I am also building and testing my 23H2 image for students. All the other apps I got rid of from the wim so it’s nice and clean apart from essentials and this silly app.

 

I did start to play with AppLocker but it didn’t seem to work in windows 11 when I tried but I haven’t had more time to go back to it yet.

 

Defender Application Control looks to be a replacement?

 

God knows how we are going to get rid of 10 by 2025, don’t have enough money to replace all our hardware by then!

Edited November 27, 2023 by Darylrese

[Warwick_Tech]

Hi All,

 

Though you can't get rid of it, you can use AppLocker to block it -

 

Make sure you pick the right version though!

 

the only thing holding me back from a full W11 rollout is students ability to 'show hidden files' which I can live with, but 'Show file extentions' is dumb - Yes I know about FSRM, but I prefer belt and braces....

[NeoNebula]

Be aware that major Windows updates can sometimes reinstall removed apps. So, you should always test these changes in a controlled environment before deploying them widely.

[mkush]

Thanks! AppLocker worked. But I'm pretty confused as to why it didn't mess up anything. My understanding is that other stuff, such as the taskbar and start menu, are also part of MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS. How come they're still working for me? I'm not complaining, just curious and a bit concerned that I've broken something that just isn't showing up yet.

 

Update: I found something that it broke: search. Clicking the search icon does nothing now. Oh well. I guess I'll have to leave the silly app enabled. Why can't we have more control over the start menu?

Edited January 8, 2024 by mkush

[David44]

the only thing holding me back from a full W11 rollout is students ability to 'show hidden files' which I can live with, but 'Show file extentions' is dumb - Yes I know about FSRM, but I prefer belt and braces....

 

What is wrong with 'Show file extensions' being on or off? It's just personal preference, isn't it?

[Warwick_Tech]

What is wrong with 'Show file extensions' being on or off? It's just personal preference, isn't it?

 

Yes and No, it also allows the user to directly edit the file extention within explorer, so for example you could write a notepad file and rename is .ps1 or .bat

 

Arguably this is where FSRM, Applocker and other security settings kick in, but there's so many extentions and wierd methods (Windows 7 god mode for example) https://www.tomshardware.com/news/GodMode-Windows-7-How-to,9345.html

 

It's just belt and braces really

[Mersaine]

Thanks! AppLocker worked. But I'm pretty confused as to why it didn't mess up anything. My understanding is that other stuff, such as the taskbar and start menu, are also part of MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS. How come they're still working for me? I'm not complaining, just curious and a bit concerned that I've broken something that just isn't showing up yet.

Update: I found something that it broke: search. Clicking the search icon does nothing now. Oh well. I guess I'll have to leave the silly app enabled. Why can't we have more control over the start menu?

I'm dealing with the same problem. We are trying to remove the "Get Started" icon at first user logon from the Start menu for the computers I manage. We are under Windows 11 Professional, and the wizard isn't designed for our corporate needs.

Thank you for the trick; I tested it and confirmed the behavior.

The icon doesn't show up at the beginning in the "Recommended/Recent Apps", but it indeed breaks the search functionality, which is enough to discourage us from proceeding with that solution.

This observation helps confirm that "Get Started" isn't just an icon that launches a wizard; it's part of many components.

I did notice that if I rename the file WebExperienceHost.exe in the folder MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy, it blocks the wizard popup from showing.

Unfortunately, blocking WebExperienceHost.exe with AppLocker didn't prevent the icon from appearing in the Recommended/Recent Apps section upon the first user login.

Do you have any ideas on how to implement a script that could silently delete the icon, at least from the Recommended/Recent Apps, so that at least users don't see it when they open their Start menu the first time and are tempted to click on it ?

 

Sincerly,

Mersaine

Edited April 3, 2024 by Mersaine