Windows 10 Customizing the Start Layout file.

[Matthew Johnson_1980]

Hello guys, hoping for a bit of assistance.


We have Windows 10 1809 build LTSC, which I am currently writing policies for. One of the policies is customizing the start layout - specifically pinning items to the task bar. I want to keep the start menu free of any live tiles, so I have exported an edited the following xml file, and imported it to some test machines via the Start Layout group policy (UC > Policies > Administrative Templates > Start Layput *note also applied to Computer with same issue):


<?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>
<CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace">
<defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
<taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
<taskbaresktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk"/>
<taskbaresktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\File Explorer.lnk" />
</taskbar:TaskbarPinList>
</defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>
</CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>
</DefaultLayoutOverride>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>


The policy appears to apply fine, pinning my chosen applications to the task bar - but I am also left with several live tiles, and I cannot work out why?




If I export the startlayout from the machine I have applied the policy too, this is what I see:


<LayoutModificationTemplate xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout" Version="1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification">
<LayoutOptions StartTileGroupCellWidth="6" />
<DefaultLayoutOverride>
<StartLayoutCollection>
<defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6" />
</StartLayoutCollection>
</DefaultLayoutOverride>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>


Checking HKCU > Software > Policies > Microsoft > Windows > Explorer > StartLayoutFile I see my custom file pushed out by my policy.


So, to summarise I am struggle to see why my custom task bar is not appearing as it should. I am not great with XML, so could it be the xml file that is the issue?


I have referred to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/start-layout-xml-desktop and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/configure-windows-10-taskbar for guidance, but don't seem to be getting anywhere.


Any help would be greatly appreciated!!


Thanks


Matthew




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