Classic Shell: Forum

I'm new to this forum and to Classic Shell.

I'm wondering if Classic Shell has the ability to use a folder (or folders) other than the Windows default folder(s) to create the "All Programs" or "All Apps" part of the Start Menu.

The problem with the default location is that several folders and files in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs are protected and required for other things to work properly.

For example, if the folder called Windows Administrative Tools is deleted in Windows 10, the Control Panel location named Administrative Tools will not populate and may return an error. Just trying to move Windows Administrative Tools will return a 0x80070005 error in Windows 10, indicating that access is denied, even if ownership of the folder is taken and privileges are granted.

Rather than mess around here, I was thinking that it would be easier and a fair amount safer to just create a new folder somewhere else and put whatever shortcuts and folders I wanted in there without fighting against Windows or risking breaking something. I was imagining that this folder could be pointed to within the Classic Shell options and used to generate the "All Programs" or "All Apps" part of the Start Menu instead of the default Windows generated locations.

I have no idea, however, if this feature already exists or how to get it working if it does.

I'll appreciate any thoughts. Right now, I absolutely hate the Start Menu in Windows 10.

If you install the Classic Shell group policies, you can use the policies "Programs folder" and "Common Programs folder" to change what folders will show in the All Programs list.

However if you are using the Classic style, you can just delete the Programs menu item and replace it with a custom item that points to your folder.

Another however: the installers put their shortcuts in the system Programs folder. Therefore your custom folder will not automatically contain new programs. If the Admin Tools is your only problem, you can simply mark it as hidden and then it won't show in the start menu.

Well, that sounds perfect... except that I don't know what you mean by "install the Classic Shell group policies." I am familiar with group policies and the Local Group Policy Editor, but I'm not sure if what you're talking about has to do with these, or something else, or what. Are there specific group policies that I should be setting? Is that along the lines of what you mean?

Sorry to be such a bother about this, but it's fairly important to me to get this working properly.

EDIT:

Okay, so I figured out to "install the Classic Shell group policies" by copying the contents of C:\Program Files\Classic Shell\PolicyDefinitions.zip to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions. Furthermore, I found the policies that you were referring to at Administrative Templates\Classic Shell\Classic Start Menu.

My only remaining question I have left is about the specific difference between the Programs Folder policy and the Common Programs Folder policy. I don't understand what each of these does, or what happens when they're set to the same or different locations.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! If I can get this all sorted out, I will definitely make a donation to the Classic Shell team.

UPDATE:

So, I enabled both policies and set C:\Start Menu as the target directory. This solution has worked to a limited degree.

The good part is that the "All Programs" list is now populated with the folders and links that I very purposely put into C:\Start Menu.

But, there are two bad parts:

1) In addition to the contents of C:\Start Menu, the Start Menu now also includes a folder called Programs including all of the items from C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. Hiding this folder and all of its contents does not remove the folder from the Start Menu (although it does hide SOME of the contents within it). This will result in duplicate entries of programs that are both organized by me and included in the default location. I would rather Classic Shell just forget about the default location altogether.

2) The Start Menu's search feature doesn't seem to search the contents of C:\Start Menu, which is pretty essential. One of the reasons I want a Start Menu that I can organize myself is to include a folder full of links to frequently visited websites that I would access via a search using the Windows key. Clearly, that isn't going to work if Classic Shell's search feature won't include results from the target directory.

Please let me know if you're aware of ways around these problems.

I really appreciate your help. Thank you so very much.

UPDATE:

I believe my problem is SOLVED!

After my previous troubles, I went back into the Group Policy Editor and started reading through all of the policies in Administrative Templates\Classic Shell\Classic Start Menu. Came across Common Start Menu Folder and Start Menu Folder. Enabled each of those settings and set C:\Start Menu (the folder I created) as their targets.

At first, I had duplicate copies of each folder within C:\Start Menu. I went back in and reset the Common Programs Folder and Programs Folder to Not Configured.

This appears to be exactly what I was looking for. The default Start Menu folder is gone and Classic Shell is searching the new Start Menu folder that I created.

I'll update again if I have any other issues, but so far I'm so pleased!

Thanks imnotlaughin, I was looking to do exactly the same thing.

It's annoying when Windows 10 updates interfere with *my* start menu and I have to keep moving stuff out of the way, plus it's annoying to keep having to give Administrator permission just to move a shortcut. Also the 'Current User' and 'All Users' shortcuts overlap so deleting one shortcut sometimes means the other remains and you have to delete that too and things get a bit of a mess.

Here's my method:

Create a folder called 'C:\Start Menu\Programs' and load up with shortcuts in their folder structure

Run 'Edit group policy'

Navigate to Local Computer Policy/Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Classic Shell/Classic Start Menu

Edit 'Common Start Menu Folder' and 'Start Menu Folder' in turn. Enabled, Locked to this value, point at 'C:\Start Menu'

[The reason there are two: the former = 'All Users' and the other = 'Current User', so point them both at your folder]

So that you still have access to the little used Windows shortcuts and to provide an easy way to move new shortcuts after software installations:

In Classic Shell Explorer Settings, add a Custom item next to 'Recent Items', edit it to include:

Link: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs; %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs


[This ensures that 'All Users' *and* 'Current User' shortcuts are included]


Label: Windows


Icon: shell32.dll, 326


Check 'Track recent items' so they appear in the 'Recent Programs' if you use them.


Hope this helps someone, and thanks again to imnotlaughin who put me on the right track.

Troy.