Windows 10 Using "Import-StartLayout" to customize the Start Menu for Windows 10 Pro build 1709 (XML)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bob.Taves
  • Start date Start date
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Bob.Taves

I've been trying all day to find the arcane formula that is needed to make this actually work but have not had any success. I'm trying to customize the new user Start Menu using the "Import-StartLayout" PowerShell tool. I need to include pinned items for "Documents", "Pictures", "Music" and "Devices and Printers" (all of these are .lnk files).


I started by building the Start Menu I needed then used "Export-StartLayout" to generate the XML. The exported XML looks fine and I get no errors at all when importing it. Logging in with a new user will show some of the items from the custom Start Menu but none of the links I mentioned above. The spaces where those links should appear are just blank. I've even simplified the XML to only include the links above and that causes the new user to see no pinned tiles at all; only the primary Start Menu. Here is the simplified XML that results in no pinned items:


<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">
<start:Group Name="">
<start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Documents.lnk" />
<start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Music.lnk" />
<start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Pictures.lnk" />
</start:Group>
</defaultlayout:StartLayout>
</StartLayoutCollection>
</DefaultLayoutOverride>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>


In this example I've copied the .lnk files into "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" but I've also tried them in a dozen other locations all with the same result. The paths are valid for the new user because after login I can copy/paste them into "Run" and it will open the correct folder (Pictures, Music, etc).


Has anyone successfully added these links to a customized Start Menu with build 1709 using XML applied with "Import-StartLayout"? If so, could you answer the following (please be exact/precise):

  1. What does your XML look like?
  2. Where did you place the .lnk files?
  3. Did you create the .lnk files for Pictures, Music, etc or copy them from another starting location?

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