Windows 10: 2018-11 Cumulative Update KB4467682 breaks custom Win 10 Start Menus

Hi, I work for a non-profit as part of the IT Dept, we run Win 10 Pro throughout our facilities, since we can't afford Enterprise. As part of that, to avoid the crapware constantly popping up in the start menus of my users, I used the procedures found here and here to create a custom start menu applied to every PC using Group Policy. It has worked beautifully for a number of months now on over a hundred PC's. However after KB4467682 was released, I've noticed that when a user logs into a PC they haven't logged into before, instead of this:




We have this:




It only affects programs in the exported XML file that are Win32, rather than Provisioned apps (hence why you still see the icon for the Weather app). And I've been able to narrow it down to KB4467682, as it just started happening in the last few days. Also, I uninstalled KB4467682, reapplied the Group Policy, and it worked fine.


In the XML file, I have attemtped to change both the %ALLUSERSPROFILE% or %APPDATA% value to the actual file path (C:\Program Data....); I've re-exported a pre-created start menu using the Export-StartLayout command in powershell on the SAME PC after KB4467682 is applied, set it as the start menu in GP, and logged into with a different user account, no change. I've copied the XML file from the read-only share on our fileserver that it's been stored on for months now, copied it to the local machine and set in GP, no change.


But, again, once I uninstall KB4467682, then it works fine on the same PC. Something changed and it broke Microsoft


XML file follows:

<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" xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout">

<LayoutOptions StartTileGroupCellWidth="6" />

<DefaultLayoutOverride LayoutCustomizationRestrictionType="OnlySpecifiedGroups">

<StartLayoutCollection>

<defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6">

<start:Group Name="Internet">

<startesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk" />

<start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="0" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" />

<startesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk" />

</start:Group>

<start:Group Name="Microsoft Office">

<startesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft Excel 2010.lnk" />

<startesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft PowerPoint 2010.lnk" />

<startesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft Word 2010.lnk" />

</start:Group>

</defaultlayout:StartLayout>

</StartLayoutCollection>

</DefaultLayoutOverride>

<CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace">

<defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>

<taskbar:TaskbarPinList>

<taskbaresktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\File Explorer.lnk" />

<taskbaresktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Internet Explorer.lnk" />

<taskbaresktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk" />

</taskbar:TaskbarPinList>

</defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>

</CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>

</LayoutModificationTemplate>

:)

 

Cumulative Update KB4467682 Windows 10 v1803 Build 17134.441 - Nov. 27

Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...date-kb4467682


Direct download links for KB4467682 MSU file from Microsoft Update Catalog:

*Arrow Download KB4467682 MSU for Windows 10 v1803 32-bit (x86) - 444.0 MB

*Arrow Download KB4467682 MSU for Windows 10 v1803 64-bit (x64) - 794.7 MB




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Customizing the Start Menu


Hi, it's very inconvenient. You have to use the underlying folders and manipulate those. (See links at end). But never hope to expect the flexibility you're used to using that. I don't know of any way to remove the ABC categorisation, which acts as a quick way to access sections of the list.

As has been said in many threads like this, if you want a truly familiar feeling start menu (that exposes those folders conveniently) use Classic Shell start menu (free).

Drag 'n drop, layout like Win 7 or XP expanding in columns across the screen, configurable search options, can launch universal apps. No tiles.

And you can still use Win 10's start menu with a key combo.











Here's what happens to a deeply nested start menu inherited from Win 7.. beyond about the 3rd folder deep, Win 10's start menu strips out all the shortcuts from the folders and lists them in alphabetical order.

Hmm.

Oh, and you can even have the Orb back if you wish..

More:
How to change default WIN10 start menu for ALL Users - Windows 10 Forums
Unable to customize Start menu Solved - Windows 10 Forums
Add or Remove Items for All Apps in Start menu in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

Very like your question:
Left-hand side start menu true customisation? - Windows 10 Forums

 

KB4457426 Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer - Sept. 11

Windows 10 does not have such a thing as a 'Monthly Quality Rollup', but Windows 7 and 8.1 do, it's their equivalent of the Cumulative Update. This patch must be intended for W7/8.1, Windows 10 does not need (and probably will refuse to install) this update because these fixes should have been in the Cumulative update we've just had.

Cumulative Update KB4457128 Windows 10 v1803 Build 17134.285 Sept. 11