Argghhhhh: Removing Starts Links

[opsoftware]

Hi all,

As per the image below there are a number of links that I just can not get rid of:

Remote Assistance

Tour Windows XP

Command Prompt

Program Compatabiltiy Wizard

Synchronize

Windows Explorer

Any idea on how to get rid of them...

Below is my cleanup script

cmdow @ /HID
@echo off

:: Start >>
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\New Office Document.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Open Office Document.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Set Program Access and Defaults.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Windows Catalog.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Windows Update.lnk"

:: Start >> Programs >>
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Remote Assistance.lnk" [B]<-- This does not seem to work[/B]

:: Start >> Programs >> Accessories >>
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Tour Windows XP.lnk" [B]<-- This does not seem to work[/B]
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Synchronize.lnk" [B]<-- This does not seem to work[/B]
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Program Compatability Wizard.lnk" [B]<-- This does not seem to work[/B]
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Command Prompt.lnk" [B]<-- This does not seem to work[/B]
rd /s /q  "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools"
rd /s /q  "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Communications"

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

RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\I386\$OEM$\
RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\install\
RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\Logfiles\

net user aspnet /delete

shutdown.exe -r -f -t 5 -c "Windows will now restart...."

EXIT

[allan]

It's probably because some of the links are located in your user folder %userprofile%

[opsoftware]

The links need to be removed from the all users profile, now when manually checking the are there and do reside if the paths as specified in my script above.

But still only some are removed.

[allan]

I have a "Command Prompt.lnk" in my users accessories folder anyway, and i guess it's created by default for each user on the system.

You you could put the del lines in each users logon script.

Or else maybe you could remove the links from the hidden "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User" folder. I presume this folder is the skeleton folder for all users logging on the system for the first time.

Edited July 13, 2005 by allan

[MHz]

I reviewed your batch. This is what I finished with.

cmdow @ /HID
@echo off

:: Start >>
set AUPSM="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu"
del "%AUPSM%\New Office Document.lnk"
del "%AUPSM%\Open Office Document.lnk"
del "%AUPSM%\Set Program Access and Defaults.lnk"
del "%AUPSM%\Windows Catalog.lnk"
del "%AUPSM%\Windows Update.lnk"


:: Start >> Programs >>
set UPSMP="%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs"
del "%UPSMP%\Remote Assistance.lnk"


:: Start >> Programs >> Accessories >>
set AUPSMPA="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories"
rd /s /q  "%AUPSMPA%\System Tools"
rd /s /q  "%AUPSMPA%\Communications"

set UPSMPA="%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories"
del "%UPSMPA%\Tour Windows XP.lnk"
del "%UPSMPA%\Program Compatability Wizard.lnk"
del "%UPSMPA%\Synchronize.lnk"
del "%UPSMPA%\Command Prompt.lnk"


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

RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\I386\$OEM$\
RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\install\
RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\Logfiles\

net user aspnet /delete

shutdown.exe -r -f -t 5 -c "Windows will now restart...."

EXIT

The guys are correct, that you are are choosing the wrong profile directories.

[opsoftware]

@Mhz: Cheers I'll give it a try and let you know.

[Yzöwl]

Have you looked in the 'Default User' profile folder?

<Edit>

All of the following lnks are found there:

• Remote Assistance
  Tour Windows XP
  Command Prompt
  Program Compatabiltiy Wizard
  Synchronize
  Windows Explorer
  

</Edit>

Here is an example of a way round not knowing for sure in which profile your file /folder is located

@echo off&setlocal enableextensions
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /b/s/ad "%AllUsersProfile%\..\*"') do if exist "%%~a\Start Menu" call :gothere "%%~a\Start Menu"
endlocal&goto :eof
:gothere
pushd %1

:: your profile dependent stuff [changed] here
del /q/s "New Office Document.lnk" 2>nul
del /q/s "Open Office Document.lnk" 2>nul
del /q/s "Set Program Access and Defaults.lnk" 2>nul
del /q/s "Windows Catalog.lnk" 2>nul
del /q/s "Windows Update.lnk" 2>nul
del /q/s "Remote Assistance.lnk" 2>nul
del /q/s "Tour Windows XP.lnk" 2>nul
del /q/s Synchronize.lnk 2>nul
del /q/s "Program Compatability Wizard.lnk" 2>nul
del /q/s "Command Prompt.lnk" 2>nul
rd /s/q  "Programs\Accessories\System Tools" 2>nul
rd /s/q  "Programs\Accessories\Communications" 2>nul

popd&goto :eof

Edited July 13, 2005 by Yzöwl

[Martin Zugec]

Some of "visual points" are removed through StubPath in registry (for example Outlook Express)

[1boredguy]

can someone please give an example of what the command would look like, to get rid of the Outlook Express.lnk file (in start menu)

and the Internet Explorer.lnk, would be nice to.

for the default user, and all future accounts created. (not %userprofile%).

[Dahi]

Thats a FAQ.

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

rem Hide IE and Outlook Express icons (WinXP)
"%SystemRoot%\System32\shmgrate.exe" OCInstallHideIE
"%SystemRoot%\System32\shmgrate.exe" OCInstallHideOE

Edited July 25, 2005 by Dahi

[cheezus420]

I used nLite to do most of those little tweaks. It seemed to work just fine for me to get rid of useless links like that. Giver a try!! B)