[Mann]

is it possible to get rid of softwares shortcuts created on administrator start menu?

[trev]

If you are using a non-administrator account and deleting software shortcuts created by an adminstrator, you can't do it! If your on the administrator's account, you would be able to by right clicking on the software shortcut and click delete.

[big_gie]

Look also in the Default user folder (%UserProfile%\..\Default User\Desktop, Start menu, etc) their will be some icon wich are created each time a user is created...

[trev]

And then right click on the icon and click delete.

[eirogge]

trev, on Apr 5 2004, 03:06 PM, said:

And then right click on the icon and click delete.

thats what i call a great tip on a medi-pro software board

just kidding

[Mann]

what i meant it's possible in uanattended mode.

[eirogge]

you just have to execute a batchfile in GuiRunOnce. there you can use the batch-commands for removing files, directories, creating files and directories and so on.

[Mann]

eirogge, on Apr 5 2004, 08:56 AM, said:

you just have to execute a batchfile in GuiRunOnce. there you can use the batch-commands for removing files, directories, creating files and directories and so on.

i managed to get rid of shortcuts created at alluser profile start menu but not on administrator.any clue

[Aaron]

lol trev, do you know what this forum is for?

[trev]

yeah

[gtaylor]

In order to remove shortcuts from the Administrator account you need to remove them from the "Default User" profile during the GUI-Mode setup. This is best done using the CMDLINES.TXT file in your $OEM$ folder. I use an INF file to modify the shortcuts however you could also use a batch file or script to do the same thing.

Some shortcuts are created when the user first logs on (eg Windows Media Player) using Active Setup. You can disable these by removing the StubPath key from the ActiveSetup portion of the Windows registry.

I have attached a copy of the INF I use to remove the shortcuts I don't want from the Start menu. Here is a sample of my CMDLINES.TXT calling the INF files.

;cmdlines.txt
;
;Commands placed in this file are run during GUI mode setup.

[Commands]
"rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 128 .\ActiveSetup.inf"
"rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection AddGroups 128 .\Shortcuts.inf"
"rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection DelShortcuts 128 .\Shortcuts.inf"

Here is the INF file to disable Active Setup:

;ActiveSetup.inf
[Version]
Signature=$CHICAGO$

[DefaultInstall]
DelReg=ActiveSetup.Delete

;Disable Active Setup Items
[ActiveSetup.Delete]
HKLM, "%ActiveSetup%\{5945c046-1e7d-11d1-bc44-00c04fd912be}","Stubpath"    ;Windows Messenger
HKLM, "%ActiveSetup%\{89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383}","Stubpath"   ;Internet Explorer 6
HKLM, "%ActiveSetup%\{6BF52A52-394A-11d3-B153-00C04F79FAA6}","Stubpath"   ;Windows Media Player
HKLM, "%ActiveSetup%\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}","Stubpath"   ;Outlook Express
HKLM, "%ActiveSetup%\>{881dd1c5-3dcf-431b-b061-f3f88e8be88a}","Stubpath"  ;Outlook Express
HKLM, "%ActiveSetup%\>{26923b43-4d38-484f-9b9e-de460746276c}","Stubpath"  ;Internet Explorer
HKLM, "%ActiveSetup%\>{22d6f312-b0f6-11d0-94ab-0080c74c7e95}","Stubpath"  ;Windows Media Player

[strings]
RunOnce = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce" 
RunOnceEx = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx" 
ActiveSetup = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components"

Attached File(s)

•  Shortcuts.inf (3.07K)
  Number of downloads: 61

[gosh]

nice job gtaylor.

-gosh

[Mann]

thanks gtaylor although I'm not familiar with INF file i did managed to get rid of most of the shortcuts using CMDLINES.TXT file.

[WwTIPPYwW]

I've got these - maybe they'll help...

ECHO.
ECHO Removing Useless Shortcuts
ECHO Please wait...
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Set Program Access and Defaults.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Windows Catalog.lnk"

[farte]

just a quick question

where do you put the inf file?

[[BM]Crusher]

If you followed the instructions from MSFN's Unattended guide, you would more than likely have a CLEANUP.CMD batch file that will delete your shortcuts for you.... This batch file gets run by apps.cmd which is in winnt.sif GuiRunOnce section. apps.cmd sets up GuiRunOnce commands for all the program installers..

A copy of my CLEANUP.CMD :

@echo off

shutdown.exe -r -f -t 45 -c "Windows XP will now restart in 45 seconds..."

ECHO.
ECHO.
ECHO Cleaning up and deleting Windows XP Bulls*** files...
ECHO.

ECHO Deleting wallpapers

DEL "%systemroot%\*.bmp"

ECHO Deleting screensavers...

DEL "%systemroot%\system32\dllcache\*.scr"
DEL "%systemroot%\system32\*.scr"

ECHO Deleting start menu shortcuts...

DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Windows Update.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Set Program Access and Defaults.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Windows Catalog.lnk"
RD /S /Q "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\PrintMe Internet Printing"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Media Player.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Movie Maker.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Reader 6.0.lnk"
DEL "%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Remote Assistance.lnk"

ECHO Deleting desktop shortcuts...

DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\Adobe Reader 6.0.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\CloneCD.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\PowerDVD.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\ISOBuster.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\Nero StartSmart.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\DAEMON Tools.lnk"
DEL "%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Default User\Desktop\Ad-Aware 6.0.lnk"
DEL "%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Default User\Desktop\CDex.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Desktop\BSplayer.lnk"
ECHO.
ECHO.

ECHO Deleting Temp Installation Files...

RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\Drivers
RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\Install
RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\FAH

Where I am deleting the Ad-Aware and CDex link you can see these are being deleted out of the "Default User" account folder... if you substituted this for "Administrator" that will work too, as long as your "Default User" account has administrative rights...

[farte]

thanks for that but would this cmd above work with accesories,system tools etc

[Mann]

managed to get rid most of the shortcuts and folders except for Accessories,startup,internet explorer and outlook express.

[eirogge]

i wonder myself why IE and OE shortcuts cannot be deleted. they are somehow protected. trying to move them doesnt work either.

[Aaron]

Try adding OEaccess=off and IEaccess=off under [Components] in winnt.sif to remove the shortcuts to them.