Applying Start Menu Layout?

[Will Schumacher]

Is there a trick since 1511 to apply the start menu layout?

I cannot for the life of me get a customized StartLayout.xml file to work.

[#2]

Are you using provisioning packages?

[#3]

Thanks for the reply.

I've tried provisioning packages, and by gpo.

The issue that gets me is that this exact Start Menu export xml file worked on 1511.

[#4]

Two things, first of all, are you referring to the layoutModification.xml file that they speak of here?

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/start-layout-xml-desktop

Also, one thing that I noticed with the ADK at least, is that if you don't use the same version OS to base the XML file off of, for some reason it doesn't always work. So, for something different, but similiar like this, you can try redoing it, using the exact same options, with the latest of configuration tools, and see if the settings now work. Anyhow, just thinking out loud, hope it helps. 

[#5]

One thing that I had to fiddle with were the scemas included in the .xml found in the <LayoutModificationTemplate> tag. The instructions on TechNet provided a good framework, but did not work perfectly 1st try.

Here is a sample of what I am using and is working. I would also try building that .xml from the same version that you are deploying to as suggested above.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LayoutModificationTemplate
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
Version="1">

</LayoutModificationTemplate>

[#6]

Thank you Sean and Dan, 

I took the advice you both gave and was able to successfully deploy the start menu customizations again.

Thanks!

-Will

[#7]

Good stuff! Glad to help.

[#8]

You can use my xml (using throw gpo)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LayoutModificationTemplate
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"
    xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
    xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
    xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
    Version="1">
 <DefaultLayoutOverride LayoutCustomizationRestrictionType="OnlySpecifiedGroups">
    <StartLayoutCollection>
      <defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6" xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout">
        <start:Group Name="DonNU" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout">
        <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" />
        <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="0" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe!MicrosoftEdge" />
        <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="0" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.WindowsMaps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" />
        </start:Group>        
      </defaultlayout:StartLayout>
    </StartLayoutCollection>
  </DefaultLayoutOverride>
  <CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>
    <defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
      <taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
        <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk"/>
        <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\File Explorer.lnk"/>
        <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk"/>
        <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Outlook 2016.lnk"/>
        <taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="\\donnu.edu.ua\sysvol\donnu.edu.ua\scripts\Center.lnk"/>
      </taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
    </defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
  </CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>

In section startlayout you add group to start layout, with taskbar - you can pin lnk to user taskbar.