Turn off user tracking
This policy setting allows you to turn off user tracking. If you enable this policy setting the system does not track the programs that the user runs and does not display frequently used programs in the Start Menu. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the system tracks the programs that the user runs. The system uses this information to customize Windows features such as showing frequently used programs in the Start Menu. Also see these related policy settings: “Remove frequent programs liist from the Start Menu” and “Turn off personalized menus”. This policy setting does not prevent users from pinning programs to the Start Menu or Taskbar. See the “Remove pinned programs list from the Start Menu” and “Do not allow pinning programs to the Taskbar” policy settings.
Remove Help menu from Start Menu
This policy setting allows you to remove the Help command from the Start menu. If you enable this policy setting the Help command is removed from the Start menu. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the Help command is available from the Start menu. This policy setting only affects the Start menu. It does not remove the Help menu from File Explorer and does not prevent users from running Help.
Remove frequent programs list from the Start Menu
If you enable this setting the frequently used programs list is removed from the Start menu. If you disable this setting or do not configure it the frequently used programs list remains on the simple Start menu.
Remove Search link from Start Menu
This policy setting allows you to remove the Search link from the Start menu and disables some File Explorer search elements. Note that this does not remove the search box from the new style Start menu. If you enable this policy setting the Search item is removed from the Start menu and from the context menu that appears when you right-click the Start menu. Also the system does not respond when users press the Application key (the key with the Windows logo)+ F. Note: Enabling this policy setting also prevents the user from using the F3 key. In File Explorer the Search item still appears on the Standard buttons toolbar but the system does not respond when the user presses Ctrl+F. Also Search does not appear in the context menu when you right-click an icon representing a drive or a folder. This policy setting affects the specified user interface elements only. It does not affect Internet Explorer and does not prevent the user from using other methods to search. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the Search link is available from the Start menu.
Remove Favorites menu from Start Menu
Prevents users from adding the Favorites menu to the Start menu or classic Start menu. If you enable this setting the Display Favorites item does not appear in the Advanced Start menu options box. If you disable or do not configure this setting the Display Favorite item is available. Note:The Favorities menu does not appear on the Start menu by default. To display the Favorites menu right-click Start click Properties and then click Customize. If you are using Start menu click the Advanced tab and then under Start menu items click the Favorites menu. If you are using the classic Start menu click Display Favorites under Advanced Start menu options. Note:The items that appear in the Favorites menu when you install Windows are preconfigured by the system to appeal to most users. However users can add and remove items from this menu and system administrators can create a customized Favorites menu for a user group. Note:This setting only affects the Start menu. The Favorites item still appears in File Explorer and in Internet Explorer.
Remove common program groups from Start Menu
Removes items in the All Users profile from the Programs menu on the Start menu. By default the Programs menu contains items from the All Users profile and items from the user’s profile. If you enable this setting only items in the user’s profile appear in the Programs menu. Tip: To see the Program menu items in the All Users profile on the system drive go to ProgramData -> Microsoft -> Windows -> Start Menu -> Programs.
Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down Restart Sleep and Hibernate commands
This policy setting prevents users from performing the following commands from the Start menu or Windows Security screen: Shut Down Restart Sleep and Hibernate. This policy setting does not prevent users from running Windows-based programs that perform these functions. If you enable this policy setting the Power button and the Shut Down Restart Sleep and Hibernate commands are removed from the Start menu. The Power button is also removed from the Windows Security screen which appears when you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the Power button and the Shut Down Restart Sleep and Hibernate commands are available on the Start menu. The Power button on the Windows Security screen is also available. Note: Third-party programs certified as compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista Windows XP SP2 Windows XP SP1 Windows XP or Windows 2000 Professional are required to support this policy setting.
Start Screen Layout
Specifies the Start screen layout for users. This setting lets you specify the Start screen layout for users and prevents them from changing its configuration. The Start screen layout you specify must be stored in an XML file that was generated by the Export-StartLayout PowerShell cmdlet. To use this setting you must first manually configure a device’s Start screen layout to the desired look and feel. Once you are done run the Export-StartLayout PowerShell cmdlet on that same device. The cmdlet will generate an XML file representing the layout you configured. Once the XML file is generated and moved to the desired file path type the fully qualified path and name of the XML file. You can type a local path such as C: -> StartLayouts -> myLayout. xml or a UNC path such as -> -> Server -> Share -> Layout. xml. If the specified file is not available when the user logs on the layout won’t be changed. Users cannot customize their Start screen while this setting is enabled. If you disable this setting or do not configure it the Start screen layout won’t be changed and users will be able to customize it.
Start Screen Layout
Specifies the Start screen layout for users. This setting lets you specify the Start screen layout for users and prevents them from changing its configuration. The Start screen layout you specify must be stored in an XML file that was generated by the Export-StartLayout PowerShell cmdlet. To use this setting you must first manually configure a device’s Start screen layout to the desired look and feel. Once you are done run the Export-StartLayout PowerShell cmdlet on that same device. The cmdlet will generate an XML file representing the layout you configured. Once the XML file is generated and moved to the desired file path type the fully qualified path and name of the XML file. You can type a local path such as C: -> StartLayouts -> myLayout. xml or a UNC path such as -> -> Server -> Share -> Layout. xml. If the specified file is not available when the user logs on the layout won’t be changed. Users cannot customize their Start screen while this setting is enabled. If you disable this setting or do not configure it the Start screen layout won’t be changed and users will be able to customize it.
Pin Apps to Start when installed
This policy setting allows pinning apps to Start by default when they are included by AppID on the list.