does anyone know if there is a way to "pre configure" the start menu in windows vista x64?

for example .. i want to be able to edit the start menu so it only has

"user"
Documents
Pictures
Music
Computer
Control Panel
Run


however i dont want to add "Dwords" to the registry to force the settings, i want to know if there is a file i can edit in the instal.wim that decides what the default config is for this so that i can still do properties on the start button and change if desired

eh, and id like to do this @ the pre install stage so when i do a clean install so it has my configuration as default


idk if this is even possible but i figgure this is the best place to ask


Also .. id like to set folders to classic view and remove the navigation pane from the left side of the folder, and add the status bar to the bottom.. before the install, is this possible?

thank you in advance for any help on this

I can do this but only with the use of dword regtweaks. I dunno if what you want is possible.

I'm not sure if this is what you are looking to do but I went to the start menu and right clicked on an open area and selected "properties". From there I selected the start menu tab and choose customize. About halfway down there is a section for "start menu size and the option to select the number of recent programs to display" I selected 0 and only have my internet link checked off to be shown in the start menu. In the top section of this page are a group of other items that you can either select or remove check mark from to customize how links, icons and menus look and behave in the start menu.
Now I just got my pc and it is running Vista Home Premium with SP1 installed and it is the 32 bit operating system. Not sure what the difference is between your system and mine but you may want to see if that will help you to customize the start menu to your liking.
Good Luck!

yup, im fully aware the start menu can be changed after you install the os

what i want is to configure the start menu and if possible some of the folder options before the operating system is even installed

this will save me time when i use the stripped vista x64 im working on for a fresh install or for a virtual machine

You might be able to configure a default profile, but there's no way (I'm aware of) to edit the registry of a WIM file in an offline state.

Personally, I use a vbscript to load up the default user ntuser.dat hive, make the changes, unload it, and then create my new user and disable the admin account (plus install software, patches, et al and reboot). That way all users get the default settings.

Alright cluberti ya smarta**....

HAHAHAHA j/k

OK, now that I'm not so busy, I can say that in fact you CAN edit the offline registry. Mount the WIM, make sure you can see hidden and system files/folders in Windows Explorer's folder options, and you can simply copy the default user's ntuser.dat to your Vista or 2008 system, load up the .dat file in regedit as a hive, and modify it. Once done, unload the hive, copy the .dat file back, and viola.

hmm i have loaded the ntuser.dat as a hive but i don't know what to add or where to set the default settings id like

below is a picture of the default start menu settings and folder settings id like.


http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=71566802qe0.jpg


hmm after some reading.. i have created a new account on my comp and copied that ntuser.dat after setting the start menu and folder view options, and have loaded it as a hive also and compared the default ntuser.dat to it and i still cant find where the settings are i want to import to the default from the new one i got fromt he account i made


any help regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

ive googled eccetra for guides and tutorials and havent found anything regarding the start menue settings or folder default settings

Thank you