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PowerShell script to export Start menu layout

The Start menu layout on Windows devices typically consists of a customizable grid of frequently used and pinned applications within the Start menu. Exporting the Start menu layout is particularly helpful for IT admins when configuring the Windows multi-app kiosk policy. The script facilitates the export of Start menu layout from Windows devices, which is essential for maintaining a standardized Start menu layout of apps while configuring the kiosk lockdown policy across multiple devices. This process involves exporting the required layout from a reference device and then using it on other devices while configuring the multi-app kiosk policy. The document includes a script to export the Start menu layout on Windows devices, which IT admins can deploy using Hexnode’s Execute Custom Script remote action.

Scripting language – PowerShell

File extension – .ps1

Disclaimer:

The sample script provided below is adapted from a third-party open-source site.

Notes:

The script is compatible exclusively with Windows 10 devices.
Only the currently logged-in user’s Start menu layout is exported.

try{ 
    #determining the current logged in user 
    $currentLoggedInuser="" 
    $signedInUsers=get-wmiobject win32_process | where-object {$_.processname -eq "explorer.exe"} | Foreach ({$_.getowner().user}) 
    foreach($user in $signedInUsers) 
    { 
        $isactive = C:\windows\system32\qwinsta.exe $user 
        if($isactive -like "*  Active*") 
        { 
            $currentLoggedInuser = $user 
            break 
        } 
    } 
    if($currentLoggedInuser -eq "") 
    { 
        Write-Host "cannot find any logged in user, so skipping script execution`nTo execute this script, atleast one user must be logged-in to the device" 
    } 
    else 
    { 
            Write-Host "The start layout for the user $currentLoggedInuser has been exported successfully." 
            $script = "Start-Process ""$file"" -PassThru -Wait" 
            #unregistering ShowNotificationTask task from task scheduler (if we have already registered using script execution) 
            try 
            { 
                $a=Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "ShowNotificationTask" -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction:Ignore 
            } 
            catch 
            { 
                Write-Host "error while unregistering sheduletask-->",$_.Exception.Message 
            } 
            #scheduling task 
            $actions = (New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute 'powershell.exe' -WorkingDirectory C:\Hexnode\Logs -Argument "-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted -WindowStyle Hidden -NoLogo -command `"&{Export-StartLayout -Path C:\Path\to\the\file\Filename.xml }`"") 
            $principal = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal -UserId $currentLoggedInuser -RunLevel Highest 
            $settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -WakeToRun -DontStopIfGoingOnBatteries -DontStopOnIdleEnd -Hidden -AllowStartIfOnBatteries -Priority 0 -StartWhenAvailable 
            $task = New-ScheduledTask -Action $actions -Principal $principal -Settings $settings 
            $reg= Register-ScheduledTask 'ShowNotificationTask' -InputObject $task 
            Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName "ShowNotificationTask" -Verbose 
    } 
} 
catch 
{ 
    Write-Host "Exception inside running script-->",$_.Exception.Message 
}

try{

#determining the current logged in user

$currentLoggedInuser=""

$signedInUsers=get-wmiobject win32_process | where-object {$_.processname -eq "explorer.exe"} | Foreach ({$_.getowner().user})

foreach($user in $signedInUsers)

{

$isactive = C:\windows\system32\qwinsta.exe $user

if($isactive -like "* Active*")

{

$currentLoggedInuser = $user

break

}

if($currentLoggedInuser -eq "")

{

Write-Host "cannot find any logged in user, so skipping script execution`nTo execute this script, atleast one user must be logged-in to the device"

}

else

{

Write-Host "The start layout for the user $currentLoggedInuser has been exported successfully."

$script = "Start-Process ""$file"" -PassThru -Wait"

#unregistering ShowNotificationTask task from task scheduler (if we have already registered using script execution)

try

{

$a=Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "ShowNotificationTask" -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction:Ignore

}

catch

{

Write-Host "error while unregistering sheduletask-->",$_.Exception.Message

}

#scheduling task

$actions = (New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute 'powershell.exe' -WorkingDirectory C:\Hexnode\Logs -Argument "-ExecutionPolicy unrestricted -WindowStyle Hidden -NoLogo -command `"&{Export-StartLayout -Path C:\Path\to\the\file\Filename.xml }`"")

$principal = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal -UserId $currentLoggedInuser -RunLevel Highest

$settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -WakeToRun -DontStopIfGoingOnBatteries -DontStopOnIdleEnd -Hidden -AllowStartIfOnBatteries -Priority 0 -StartWhenAvailable

$task = New-ScheduledTask -Action $actions -Principal $principal -Settings $settings

$reg= Register-ScheduledTask 'ShowNotificationTask' -InputObject $task

Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName "ShowNotificationTask" -Verbose

}

catch

{

Write-Host "Exception inside running script-->",$_.Exception.Message

}

The script fetches and saves the Start menu layout for the currently logged-in user account using the Export-StartLayout cmdlet. This cmdlet exports the layout of the Start menu as an XML file. The Export-StartLayout cmdlet is used with the -Path parameter specifying the location and filename where the XML file containing the Start menu layout will be saved. Replace C:\Path\to\the\file\Filename.xml with the actual path where you want to save the start layout XML file. Also, replace Filename.xml with the desired name for the XML file.

What happens at the device end?

Upon successful execution of the script, the Start menu layout of the currently logged-in user account will be saved to the specified location on the device. A success message will then be displayed in the Hexnode UEM portal under the Action History tab.

Notes:

It is recommended to manually validate the script execution on a system before executing the action in bulk.
Hexnode will not be responsible for any damage/loss to the system on the behavior of the script.

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PowerShell script to export Start menu layout

Export Start menu layout

What happens at the device end?