Classic Shell: Forum

Hello,

I am testing classic-shell on Windows Server 2016 in an enterprise-scenario. (Terminal-Server)
I want to have the startmenu-folder redirected for all users to a network-share.
I got the recommendation to use the default Microsoft folder-redirection on startmenu and not the classic-shell ADMX-setting (Common Start Menu folder).

However ... everything is working fine.
The problem is, that the user gets shortcuts from the network-share and also from "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu" in his Classic-Shell start menu.
Now I am unsure about the strategy to get rid of the shortcuts from "%ProgramData%".

Should I delete all the entries from "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu" in my base image?
or
Should I set the Classic Shell ADMX-setting "Common Programs Folder"?

I tested the mentioned ADMX-setting. On my first try I left the input-box for "Common Start Menu folder" blank. This had no effect.
Then I did set it to "C:\Temp", which is currently empty, and I didn't had shortcuts in start menu.
In production the mentioned folder might get filled up. Where should I point it best to, to get no shortcuts?
I don't want to point it to a folder which doesn't exist, because maybe the software tries everytime to reach the folder or something like that ...

Any recommendations?

Thank you!

Try the group policy "Remove common program groups from Start Menu" in Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar.

@Wotan, note that this is a Windows Group Policy setting for "Start Menu and Taskbar".

Also, what if you redirect both the common programs folder as well as the common Start Menu folder using the 2 Classic Shell Policy settings for both? The common programs folder is part of the Common Start menu folder so I vaguely recollect Ivo explaining to me that both should be redirected for it to work correctly.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Thank you for your answers!

@Ivo:
>>> Try the group policy "Remove common program groups from Start Menu" in Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar.

I know this this setting. It does have a negative side-effect, because it will remove the "Public Desktop" as well and I don't want that!


@Gaurav:
>>> Also, what if you redirect both the common programs folder as well as the common Start Menu folder using the 2 Classic Shell Policy settings for both?

As I did mention in my first post, I got recommended to keep/use the default Microsoft folder-redirection instead of the integrated-ClassicShell redirection. (="Common Start Menu Folder"-Setting)

I see. I misunderstood because you wrote "however everything is working fine" so I concluded that you used the Classic Shell policies against your recommendation and yet everything is fine except for this issue.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

OK, I did read through my text again and I am sorry, that it was not that clear.
But back to the question in Post #1 ...

As a workaround, you could use Group Policy Preferences to create shortcuts on the user's desktop.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.