How to customize Windows 10 Start Menu
Windows 10 has a different way to customize Start Menu than Windows 7, it will involve power shell and xml file.
In this article I wil explain how windows 10 Start Menu works, how can be changed, export the configuration and apply this configuration during the OSD task sequence.
Starting with basics, the default Start Menu template is located here:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\DefaultLayouts.xml
To modify the start menu we use file called LayoutModification.xml that should reside in the same directory. This file can be used in many ways for OEM’s to add icons to the Start Menu or for us IT-Pro to override the default Start Menu. More information on how to use these files can be found here on MSDN: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/mt171092(v=vs.85).aspx
Create a custom Windows 10 Start Menu
By default in windows you will have something similar with this:
This is not acceptable for a corporate standard. To configure the start menu right click on each icons and removed. After everything is clear take you favourite apps, right click and add to start menu. Arranged them in you favourite order, you can create multiple groups in start menu. In my example is just one. Once you are happy we will go to save this configuration.
Save Windows 10 Start Menu configuration
To export windows 10 configuration we will use power shell and xml files.
Start power shell:
Export-Startlayout –path C:\Temp\Startmenu.xml
Now we have a configuration saved in a xml file, something similar with this:
Using this configuration we will override the default start menu defined in the DefaultLayouts.xml in Windows 10
Import Windows 10 Start Menu layout with power shell
Once we have a custom configuration we will use power shell to import and override the default one. Note, this it will apply only to new users logged on this computer, existing profile are not affected.
The power shell command is Import-StartLayout –LayoutPath C:\Temp\Startmenu.xml -MountPath C:\
After the command is successfully completed the Layoutmodification.xml file is created here:
C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Layoutmodification.xml
Applying the Windows 10 Start Menu during OS deployment
To apply the layout we need:
- Create script who will apply the layout, in my case IE 11 was required so i was forced to add a new line just to copy IE shorcut to be avilble in start menu
xcopy /y "Internet Explorer.lnk" "C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories"
Import-StartLayout -LayoutPath $PSScriptRoot\OIR_StartMenu.xml -MountPath C:\
- Create a package in SCCM, use the option This package contains source files where you put the ps1 script the xml file and in my case the shortcut
- Add Run a Powershell script command in your TS, point to the start menu package and point to the ps1 script, don't forgot to choose Bypass for execution policy
Looking in the TS logs status, all good :)
Same in the freshly new deployed computer, so happy days :)
I wish you happy SCCM-ing