Windows 10: Backup and Restore Start Layout in Windows 10

Oh? Hmm. I don't think I made any mistakes. I'm careful to take time to follow paths and instructions. I'm about updated to 17045. I'll try again in it.

 

I just tested in build 17046, and it's still working for me. I guess double check the steps to see if you may have missed something somewhere. *Confused

 

Thanks, Shawn. Will do. *Smile

 

Try as I might, I cannot get this to work in my Insider builds. It worked in FCU on both machines.

I noticed when I merged the .reg file I get a quick flash of a box of which I can't catch it's so quick. I don't get that in my FCU's. A warning message? Could it be my Insiders are blocked some how?

 

Just to verify, did you delete the current DefaultAccount registry key before merging the backed up .reg file?

When you merged the .reg file, did you get the Yes, Yes, and OK prompts to approve merging it?

If not, do you have UAC set to the default level?

 

Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving, Shawn. *Smile

You know me. I'm a Windows purist. I never touch settings, especially UAC. Never hack the Registry, nor clean it. This is an exception to change as with some of your other .reg files. Yes, I get the prompt and that it succeeded in adding/updating the Registry. It's right after I click ok on the first warning box I get the flash. I didn't seem to get that in my FCU OSes. I don't remember ever getting it before. Do you get that flash?

Another strange thing is that I started to give up on it in 17046, changed the settings to full screen, extra tiles, and no All apps column in Settings app as I like, pressed the WinKey to start arranging, and thought I'd give it one more try. LOL! It went back to the default settings. *Confused

I can understand making a mistake once and maybe twice, but six or seven times? I always reboot with another attempt, for the Current User hive is built upon boot or logging back in, yes? The way this works is that it changes the Registry file(s) for my account in other hives upon logging out, reboot, or shutting down, yes? I'm logging out and back in as per instructions here.

 

Happy Thanksgiving Day Tony. *Smile

You didn't mention if you delete the DefaultAccount registry key before merging the backed up .reg file. If you don't, then your backup will not be properly restored.

When I merge my backup .reg, I get the UAC prompt to click on Yes, then I get the Yes and OK prompts in step 7 option 2.

I don't get a flash though. When it flashes, do you lose your taskbar and desktop background temporarily? If so, this flash may be from explorer crashing and restarting.

 

Yes, I delete the key, close out Regedit, go to the backed up key, and merge it. Copy the .xml file in another FE instance. Sign out/in. Been following the instructions to the tee. Like I said, it worked in my FCUs on two machines.

No other flashing, but a very quick rectangle flash. Nothing else. That's on my Asus. May be a GPU thing?

Just tried this on my newly updated 17046 on my Acer. I don't get the flash there. Again, I set Start as I like it in Settings, perform everything, and again it set the Start back to default there also. Tried it a few times. Same thing.

There's got to be something with my IP accounts that's blocking this. Can't think of anything else. I don't think dual booting with both FCUs and IPs on both machines have anything to do with it, would it?

Just plain weird and confusing. I'm going to let this be for now. I can live with it working in my FCUs. I'll just arrange the IPs. It's just if/when I clean install those that it's a pita. However, I'm going to try this on my laptop FCU in a bit and I bet both my next pension checks that it works. *Biggrin

I have five W10s on three machines plus my Lumia. They are all set to sync with my account. Sign in with the same MS account on all six OSes.

As you know, the W10 Lumia backs up the Start like the 8/8.1 PCs did. They should bring that feature in PC 10. But no! We had to have the Start menu back! *sarc

 

Yeah, it would be nice to have a built-in backup/restore feature for the Start layout.

 

Maybe some day. I'm grateful you figured this method out. Thanks again, Shawn. *Smile

 

Well, geoken2 did point me in the right direction. *Smile

 

Yes and a thanks again to geoken2 as well. *Smile