How to Modify the All Users Startup Menu

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

As you no doubt know, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have modified the locations for user profiles. They are no longer in %SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings and exist in the %ProgramData%\Users folder.

However, to modify the All Users profile to add a shortcut to the Startup menu you actually need to access the %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder.

See Peter Fitzsimon's blog for all the gory details.

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12 comments:

  1. CorranThornMay 13, 2009 at 1:07 PM

    Just wanted to let you know. The easiest way to edit a user's All Users folder is through group policy preferences. No one seems to be using these, but they (the preferences) rock.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Corn Dog LoverJuly 6, 2009 at 7:46 AM

    I like corn dogs but I do not like the breading on corn dogs. When I order a corn dog I say "please hold the breading." This tends to irk the maker of said corn dog because if they are pre-breaded, they have to peel the corn dog before giving it to me as I refuse to peel the corn dog myself.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JeffJuly 6, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    I usually reject comments like the one above, but it was just too dang funny.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 11, 2010 at 8:21 PM

    Straight to the point and very helpful.

    Why don't Microsoft leave things alone? Or tell us what they've done?

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMay 11, 2010 at 9:20 AM

    Amen to the Corn Dog Lover comment. Made me laugh.

    ReplyDelete
  6. NathanApril 19, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    Just a note, for the "All Users" desktop folder, pop open an Explorer window and paste:

    c:\users\public\desktop

    With thanks to:

    http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Server/Windows_Server_2008/Q_24070754.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMay 8, 2012 at 6:01 PM

    How about answering the question? It is

    C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jeff Guillet - @exptaMay 9, 2012 at 8:12 AM

    Testy, aren't we?

    The path depends on where Windows is installed, normally:

    C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousMay 17, 2012 at 11:54 AM

    wow...
    %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

    IS the location. Testy is an understatement :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJune 11, 2012 at 2:45 AM

    that is so random, corn dogs? lol

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2013 at 8:12 PM

    This makes me want to use my linux box for a while.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousMarch 26, 2013 at 3:35 PM

    The problem is that the people in charge of designing things for microsoft are all 22 year old propeller heads with zero common sense or experience and the people above them are all marketing twits. (this is why every time I try to use a microsoft product I end up on google looking for some way do do what should be a SIMPLE BASIC TASK.)

    By the way... thank you for figuring out what happened to "All Users."

    ReplyDelete

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