Backup / Restore startmenu design (Layout)
If you want to backup your startmenu layout you can export using:
1 | export-startlayout –path C:\layout.xml |
BUT,You can import a Start Menu layout using Group Policy Editor (gpedit). After importing the layout it will be fixed, that is you will not be able to change that layout by moving the tiles around.
or better yet copy it as below.
backup:
Files are saved in the location of the script.
1 2 | Reg export ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\Cache\DefaultAccount") ("backup_startmenu.reg") /y Copy-Item ("$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\DefaultLayouts.xml") -Destination ("backup_startmenu.xml") |
restore:
1 2 3 | Reg delete ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\Cache\DefaultAccount") /f Reg import ("backup_startmenu.reg") Copy-Item ("backup_startmenu.xml") -Destination ("$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\DefaultLayouts.xml") |
All in one menu and options (save as anything.ps1)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 | #------------------------------------------------------------------------------ # AUTHOR(s): # Kyle Wadman # 12/2019 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLS $Loop = $true While ($Loop) { #+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ # Start | PowerShell Script menu #+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CLS write-host write-host +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ write-host "Startmenu backup/restore | -V1.0 Windows 10" write-host +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ write-host write-host -ForegroundColor yellow "Your can use the export-startlayout command to complete this task but on importing back into the system," write-host -ForegroundColor yellow "your startmenu will be fixed to the exported design. This method doesn't restricted changes after." write-host write-host 'PLEASE SELECT AN OPTION ' write-host -ForegroundColor gray '------------------------------------------------' write-host -ForegroundColor green 'B) BACKUP' write-host -ForegroundColor gray '------------------------------------------------' write-host -ForegroundColor cyan 'R) RESTORE' write-host -ForegroundColor gray '------------------------------------------------' write-host -ForegroundColor yellow 'X) Exit' write-host $opt = Read-Host "Select an option " write-host $opt switch ($opt) #+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ # End of | PowerShell Script menu #+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ { b { #BACKUP SCRIPT CLS write-host "Exporting Reg >"; Reg export ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\Cache\DefaultAccount") ("backup_startmenu.reg") /y write-host "Collect XML >"; try{Copy-Item ("$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\DefaultLayouts.xml") -Destination ("backup_startmenu.xml")} #-ErrorAction SilentyContinue catch{write-host "Failed to find XML"; pause; break}; write-host "The operation completed successfully." write-host -BackgroundColor yellow -ForegroundColor red " All Done " pause } r { #RESTORE SCRIPT CLS write-host "Clean reg >"; Reg delete ("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\Cache\DefaultAccount") /f write-host "Import reg >"; Reg import ("backup_startmenu.reg") write-host "Place XML >"; try{Copy-Item ("backup_startmenu.xml") -Destination ("$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\DefaultLayouts.xml")} catch{write-host "Failed to Place XML"; pause; break}; write-host "The operation completed successfully." write-host -BackgroundColor yellow -ForegroundColor red " You now need to logout and back in to see the results. " pause } x{#BYE CLS write-host "Goodbye, It was nice to see you today." exit } } } |
I did find someone has built this process into an application here. For coded requirements, you can thank me later.
Maybe for personal backups, check out the software version.
