Classic Shell: Forum

Hello,

I'm having trouble getting Classic Shell to respect group policy settings. I am trying to use the native Windows Group Policy settings for the start menu, not the new Classic Shell application specific settings provided by the admx files. It appears that its intended for Classic Shell to support these settings, because I found this other post http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1823 where its mention that: "Classic Shell respects the group policies that have an API to retrieve them: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb762534(v=vs.85).aspx".

But according to this msdn site: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb762245%28v=vs.85%29.aspx the SHRestricted function and has not been supported since XP SP2.
So it appears the mechanism that Classic Shell is using to query for group policy settings does not work. As far as I can tell, the correct method is to just query the appropriate policy registry keys in both HKLM and/or HKCU. Here is a link to download the complete group policy settings reference guide: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=25250

I hope that this can be fixed so you will continue to provide support for the native Windows start menu group policy settings, even though you are now providing application specific admx files.

Thanks.

is there a particular setting that doesn't work for you?

I set the setting via the local group policy editor (gpedit.msc).
Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar\Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands.

Yeah, that disables the Shutdown but only in the Classic styles. It corresponds to REST_NOCLOSE, which according to the docs only disables Shutdown.
I'm not sure if I should support this particular setting. There are already so many ways you can customize which shutdown options are available.

I understand now. I did not test with the classic style start menu; it does respect that policy as expected.

I was hoping that the windows 7 style of classic start menu would use this setting to behave the same way as the native windows 7 start menu. The native start menu removes Shutdown, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate.

This particular group policy has been around since Windows 2000, and all versions of Windows have respected the policy. Even the Windows 8.1 charms bar alters its available power settings via this policy.

What other native windows group policy methods are there to customize which shutdown options are available? I'm only aware of this one policy. There is the "Change start menu power button" policy, but that just controls what is shown directly on the start menu without having to expand the menu.

There are multiple start menu settings that affect the shutdown button in Windows 7 style. For example you can choose to hide it. Or you can choose which items to show in the sub-menu. Also the start menu respects the group policies for hiding logoff, undock and switch user.

In Classic Shell 4.0.5, the REST_NOCLOSE Windows Group Policy correctly disables Shutdown, Restart etc in the Start Menu for all styles.

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.