Prevent creation of startmenu/programs/.lnk files

[1boredguy]

everytime i manually create an account, these links are there.

is there a way to prevent .lnk files being created in the "start menu/programs"? namely the internet explorer, outlook express, remote assistance, windows media player.

and i'm talking about FUTURE accounts that AREN'T DEFINED YET, and wont be defined during the unattended install.

these didn't work, maybe my syntax is wrong?:

DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Media Player.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Remote Assistance.lnk"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Outlook Express.lnk"

thanks for any help!

[jbm]

Have you tried the [components] section of winnt.sif?

Although I think the programs are still installed so anyone

could run the exe and still use them.

[Gouki]

DEL /S /Q "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Media Player.lnk"
DEL /S /Q "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Remote Assistance.lnk"
DEL /S /Q "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Outlook Express.lnk"

U could also delete them from %userprofile%. Just to make sure they get fully deleted from everywhere!

[Achdine]

That's his problem Gouki...you can't delete them from %UserProfile% before the user account is created.

You could make a little script that executes the first time the new user logs in which deletes the links...but that's pretty messy and annoying. I'll be very interested to hear if someone knows a way to prevent them from being created at all.

[Dahi]

As JBM says, use the Components section of Winnt.sif

[Components]
  AccessOpt = On; accessibility wizard
  CharMap = On; enables insertion of symbols and characters into documents
  Chat = On; chat client
  DeskPaper =Off; desktop wallpaper
  Dialer = Off; phone dialer
  Fax=Off	; Fax components
  fp_extensions=Off; Front Pager Extensions
  freecell = off; freecell game
  hearts=off; hearts game
  hypertrm = On; hyperterm
  IEAccess=Off; Disables visible entry points (shortcuts) for IE
   OEAccess=off; Turn off Outlook Express icons
  media_clips = off; Sample Sounds
  Media_Utopia = off; No utopia sound scheme
  minesweeper = off; game
  mousepoint = off; mouse pointers
  Mplay = on; Windows media player
  msnexplr=off; Disable install of MSN Explorer
  MsWordPad = On; Word Pad
  ObjectPkg = Off; object packager
  Paint = On; MS Paint
  pinball = off; game
  rec = off	; sound recorder
  reminst = off; remote installation services
  solitaire = off; Solitaire game
  spider=off; spider game
  Templates = Off; document templates
  TerminalServer=off; Installs Terminal Services on SERVERs only
  vol = on	; volume control
  Wms = Off; windows media technologies components
  zonegames=off; Installs MS Game Zone internet games

[Martin Zugec]

Most simple method is using Components section...

However there is way to modify it after installation - just clear StubPath for your selected component

EDIT: StubPath is responsible for creating dynamic shortcuts (so you want be able to see them in default profile). For example to remove Outlook Express for all new accounts, just add this to RunOnceEx:

REG ADD %strRegistryKey%\050 /VE /D "Removing Outlook Express" /f
REG ADD %strRegistryKey%\050 /V 1 /D "reg add \"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}\" /v Stubpath /t REG_SZ /d \"\" /f" /f
REG ADD %strRegistryKey%\050 /V 2 /D "reg delete \"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\^>{881dd1c5-3dcf-431b-b061-f3f88e8be88a}\" /f" /f

P.S.: Didnt try it, I am using Components method, however it should work

[MHz]

Using Components disables the programs and removes the shortcuts. Disabling the programs is not a solution to removing shortcuts. These shortscuts are not created until the desktop is active. They reside in %AllUsersProfile%, so if you delete them once, they will not return.

I use an AutoIt script for this. It is called by the HKLM Run key. It waits for a process to start, then does the tidy up process etc, removes the reg value, removes itself and reboots. I set a small reboot timeout, which looks so much better.

I have tested a batch script before in the startup folder. This works fine. But an ugly, black window solution.

Not tried, but you could enter reg entries, to remove them on the reboot. The runonce key may seem suitable for the task.

[Dahi]

To clarify, the following options in winnt.sif simply prevent the creation of shortcuts to Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. The apps are installed, but shortcuts are not created.

IEAccess=Off; Disables visible entry points (shortcuts) for IE
OEAccess=off; Turn off Outlook Express icons

It is also possible to turn shortcuts on and off after installation with the following commands.

rem Show IE and hide OE icons (Win2000)
"%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe" "%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll",OCInstall ShowIE
"%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe" "%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll",OCInstall HideOE 

rem Show IE and hide Outlook Express icons (WinXP)
"%SystemRoot%\System32\shmgrate.exe" OCInstallShowIE
"%SystemRoot%\System32\shmgrate.exe" OCInstallHideOE