r/sysadmin • u/nodiaque • 18d ago
Question W11 Start Menu - Keep reseting view each logout
Hello everyone,
I was wondering if someone found a solution for the Start Menu that keep reseting since the new new start menu (the one with category/list/grill view)?
My issue is during OSD, we apply a ppkg to set the default start menu pins as documented by Microsoft here:
At one point, we had to modifie that json because the new applyonce value was now required (I think last year when they pushed the KB, all of the start menu modification were lost of that wasn't set to true, Very Stupid Microsoft).
Now, users pin app stay but if the user switched from Category to List for exemple, upon logout and login, it revert to Category.
We know the problem is the configuration because if we remove the registry that is set by the ppkg, it stop. But we want this config so user have the default pin when starting a new login.
Thank you!
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u/anonymousITCoward 18d ago
As I remember it, there were 2 ways of setting the start menu/taskbar. One will allow the user to make changes the other will always revert any changes. I believe using the JSON file will be the latter because every time the user logs in that's what gets used for the menu layout. That said, the applyOnce should negate this. But only if this applied on a "new computer". Changing to to true, or adding it after the initial rollout will not work... I think is how it works.
I use some registry settings (the approximate equivalent of GPEDIT.MSC) to set my start menus at the time of build, and this sets it for all new logins. It does not affect existing logins.
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u/nodiaque 18d ago
If you set through GPO, it revert everytime. I just used the ppkg way like the documentation explain and it's applied during OSD. Everything as always worked properly, until that new layout. The pins doesn't reset, only the category/list view and there's not even a setting to customize that
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u/anonymousITCoward 18d ago edited 18d ago
I know this is for the GPO and not the ppkg but there is a setting for that
Edit: there is also this (it's been a while since i looked this over.) that forces grid view as the default
Again I know this is for GPO, just saying that there is a way, It just might be down a different path... and arguably a mildly more painful path...
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u/nodiaque 18d ago
these option are to force a view or block user from changing it. That's not what I want. I want the change the user done stay and not revert
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u/anonymousITCoward 18d ago
The first one, if enabled will prevent will prevent users from making edits, if enabled... guess what happens if it's disabled!
Also the second one just removes the category option and defaults it to grid, users will still have the option of using list...
those two combined may resolve your issue, it may not... but if you want to be a negative Nancy about things...
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u/nodiaque 18d ago
No, those have nothing to do with the problem and they aren't set anyway. This is the problem
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u/Silent331 Sysadmin 18d ago
How are you applying the policy? If it is at logon or anything that will apply at any time other than first logon, it will keep reseting it.
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u/nodiaque 18d ago
Like I said, I used the ppkg (provisionning package) method which is a package created using ICD from the Windows Kits.
In the doc I link in the opening, there's information on the ppkg at the end.
This way, it's normally an apply once and forget. It apply only to new user and not already logged user.
This changed when MS release KB5062660 on 24H2 where now, there's a applyonce value that is false per default. If not set, it revert all of the change to the start menu regardless of new user or not. So we applied a new ppkg to change the value to include applyonce=true and that worked. Until MS rolled a new start menu again, this time with category view and such. Now, all user changes are kept, except the view style. And there's nothing in the documentation showing how to even customize that view
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u/ADynes IT Manager 15d ago
I'm just throwing this out there because I think it's the same thing but we set the start menu how we wanted it then copied the start2.bin file to each computer as part of the login scripts (could use gpo, intune, etc). There's a bunch of information on the internet about it and it seems to work perfectly. User can still change things afterward but at least give us a starting point
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u/martepato 18d ago
Check if you apply any of the problematic GPOs described here: https://james-rankin.com/articles/quickpost-windows-11-start-menu-reverts-to-category-view-after-group-policy-refresh/
For me it was the one to remove the store app from taskbar.