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Question about ADMX-Setting "Common Programs Folder"
http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7884		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Wotan [ Thu Sep 07, 2017 8:18 am ]
Post subject:  Question about ADMX-Setting "Common Programs Folder"
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!
Author:  Ivo [ Thu Sep 07, 2017 8:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question about ADMX-Setting "Common Programs Folder"
Try the group policy "Remove common program groups from Start Menu" in Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar.
Author:  Gaurav [ Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question about ADMX-Setting "Common Programs Folder"
@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.
Author:  Wotan [ Thu Sep 07, 2017 9:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question about ADMX-Setting "Common Programs Folder"
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)
Author:  Gaurav [ Thu Sep 07, 2017 10:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Question about ADMX-Setting "Common Programs Folder"
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. :P
Author:  Wotan [ Thu Sep 07, 2017 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Question about ADMX-Setting "Common Programs Folder"
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 ...
Author:  Gaurav [ Thu Sep 07, 2017 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Question about ADMX-Setting "Common Programs Folder"
As a workaround, you could use Group Policy Preferences to create shortcuts on the user's desktop.
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