Hide desktop icons from all users

[Hightower]

Anybody got any idea how I can:

 

A) Hide the all the icons on the desktop except the ones in the redirected folder?

B) Hide all start-->All Programs except the ones in the redirected folder?

 

My redirections are working fine, just not sure how to hide all the other rubbish

[krisd32]

group policy is your answer for this one.

admin templates ===> start menu and task bar ====> remove common program groups and remove users folders should get rid of your rubbish.

admin templates ===> desktop ===> choose which parts you don't want them to see.

[Hightower]

group policy is your answer for this one.

admin templates ===> start menu and task bar ====> remove common program groups and remove users folders should get rid of your rubbish.

admin templates ===> desktop ===> choose which parts you don't want them to see.

 

First one is just what i was looking for, but the second one doesn't have an option to remove icons in the All Users folder.

[krisd32]

Saying that i did clean out all the other icons on the image prior to deploying it out to the rest. maybe somebody might have a script which deletes all the shortcuts in the local all users folder.

[bladedanny]

Would it be possible to put deny permissions for selected groups on the All Users/Desktop folder?

 

Computer Config > Windows Settings > Security Settings > File System. Add the all users/desktop and apply deny permissions.

 

Not tested but in theory it should work.

[6Foot2]

I use this startup batch file to get rid of them from the Desktop and Start Menu:

 

REM Delete shortcuts if they exist
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Outlook Express.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Outlook Express.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Registry Life.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Registry Life.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SlimComputer\Uninstall SlimComputer.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SlimComputer\Uninstall SlimComputer.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\A Ruler for Windows.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\A Ruler for Windows.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Acrobat_COM.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Acrobat_COM.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Adobe Reader 9.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Adobe Reader 9.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Adobe Reader X.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Adobe Reader X.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Artweaver 1.0.LNK" del If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Artweaver 1.0.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Bitser.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Bitser.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Books.Show.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Books.Show.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Browser Choice.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Browser Choice.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Certiprep.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Certiprep.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Dell Backup and Recovery Manager.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Dell Backup and Recovery Manager.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Exampro AQA GCSE Mathematics.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Exampro AQA GCSE Mathematics.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Free Offers.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Free Offers.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\FlipShare.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\FlipShare.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\GMetrix SMS.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\GMetrix SMS.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Google Earth.LNK" del If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Google Earth.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\GooReader.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\GooReader.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Guten Reader.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Guten Reader.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\iTALC.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\iTALC.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\ITunes.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\ITunes.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\iQsystem Exams.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\iQsystem Exams.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\iQsystem Tools.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\iQsystem Tools.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Mathematics Teacher Material 8.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Mathematics Teacher Material 8.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Mozilla Firefox.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Mozilla Firefox.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Notepad++.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Outlook Express.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\OCR A Level Pure Maths.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\OCR A Level Pure Maths.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\OpenOffice.ORG 3.2.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\OpenOffice.ORG 3.2.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\PICAXE Programming Editor.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\PICAXE Programming Editor.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\QuickTime Player.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\QuickTime Player.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\RealPlayer.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\RealPlayer.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Registry Life.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Registry Life.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Safer food, better business guide - English Version.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Safer food, better business guide - English Version.LNK.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Shakespeare Reader.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Shakespeare Reader.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\SlimComputer.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\SlimComputer.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\SlimDrivers.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\SlimDrivers.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Uninstall SlimComputer.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Uninstall SlimComputer.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Windows Media Player.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Windows Media Player.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\XML Notepad 2007.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\XML Notepad 2007.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\yoUR Sport.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\yoUR Sport.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\iTalc.LNK " del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\iTALC.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Maths" RMDIR "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Maths" /s /q
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Microsoft Update.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Microsoft Update.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Set Program Access and Defaults.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Set Program Access and Defaults.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\3ivx\3ivx MPEG-4 5.0.3\Uninstall.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\3ivx\3ivx MPEG-4 5.0.3\Uninstall.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\A Ruler for Windows\Uninstall A Ruler for Windows.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\A Ruler for Windows\Uninstall A Ruler for Windows.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Bitser\Uninstall Bitser.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Bitser\Uninstall Bitser.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Cambridge University Press\Essentials\Mathematics Teacher Material 8\Mathematics Teacher Material 8 - Uninstall.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Cambridge University Press\Essentials\Mathematics Teacher Material 8\Mathematics Teacher Material 8 - Uninstall.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Dia\Uninstall.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Dia\Uninstall.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Google Earth\Uninstall Google Earth.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Google earth\Uninstall Google Earth.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\iTalc\Uninstall iTalc.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\iTalc\Uninstall iTalc.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Virtual PC.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Virtual PC.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\QuickTime\Uninstall QuickTime.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\QuickTime\Uninstall QuickTime.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Registry Life\Uninstall Registry Life.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Registry Life\Uninstall Registry Life.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Vinyl Deck.LNK" del If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Vinyl Deck.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Windows Catalog.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Windows Catalog.LNK"
If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Windows Update.LNK" del "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Windows Update.LNK"
:END

[Hightower]

I use this startup batch file to get rid of them from the Desktop and Start Menu:

 

If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Google Earth.LNK" del If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Google Earth.LNK"

 

I think you have a slight error in your batch file, del If Exist - not sure if it is an error, but that line is different to the others.

[6Foot2]

I think you have a slight error in your batch file, del If Exist - not sure if it is an error, but that line is different to the others.

 

Thanks. That was a recent addition to the script and as you correctly pointed out I hadn't spotted the error.

 

Edit: There were two other similar errors:

 

If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Artweaver 1.0.LNK" del If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Artweaver 1.0.LNK"

 

If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Vinyl Deck.LNK" del If Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Vinyl Deck.LNK"

 

Corrected now.

 

Thanks again for the heads up.

Edited March 24, 2011 by 6Foot2

[quietriot1983]

I have this inside a logon script. Works fine.

 

cd "c:\documents and settings\all users\desktop\"
del *.* /Q

[6Foot2]

I have this inside a logon script. Works fine.

 

cd "c:\documents and settings\all users\desktop\"
del *.* /Q

 

I didn't want to do that because I have some staff users logging on locally.

[quietriot1983]

Ahhh. Apologies

[6Foot2]

No apology needed. I was just explaining why I have tackled this problem in the way I do.

[sidewinder]

Whenever I have used the remove common program groups GPO in the past, it has removed both the start menu AND the desktop all users icons - because at one point I wanted to keep one but not the other and found I couldnt do it.

 

Am I missing something here?