Added option to disable & hide the recommended section from the start menu #187

README.md

@@ -41,13 +41,14 @@ The script also includes many features that system administrators will enjoy. Su
 - Hide the 3D objects, music or OneDrive folder from the File Explorer navigation pane. (W10 only)
 - Hide duplicate removable drive entries from the File Explorer navigation pane, so only the entry under 'This PC' remains.
 
-#### Taskbar
+#### Taskbar & Start
 
 - Align taskbar icons to the left. (W11 only)
 - Hide or change the search icon/box on the taskbar. (W11 only)
 - Hide the taskview button from the taskbar. (W11 only)
 - Disable the widgets service & hide icon from the taskbar.
 - Hide the chat (meet now) icon from the taskbar.
+- Disable & hide the recommended section in the start menu.
 
 #### Context Menu
 
@@ -327,14 +328,15 @@ The quick and advanced usage methods support switch parameters. A table of all t
 | -HideTaskview                      |    Hide the taskview button from the taskbar. (Windows 11 only) |
 | -HideChat                          |    Hide the chat (meet now) icon from the taskbar. |
 | -DisableWidgets                    |    Disable the widget service & hide the widget (news and interests) icon from the taskbar. |
+| -DisableStartRecommended           |    Disable & hide the recommended section in the start menu. This will also change the start menu layout to `More pins`. |
 | -DisableCopilot                    |    Disable and remove Windows Copilot. (Windows 11 only) |
 | -DisableRecall                     |    Disable Windows Recall snapshots. (Windows 11 only) |
 | -HideHome                          |    Hide the home section from the File Explorer navigation pane and add a toggle in the File Explorer folder options. (Windows 11 only) |
 | -HideGallery                       |    Hide the gallery section from the File Explorer navigation pane and add a toggle in the File Explorer folder options. (Windows 11 only) |
-| -ExplorerToHome                    |    Changes the page that File Explorer opens to to `Home` |
+| -ExplorerToHome                    |    Changes the page that File Explorer opens to to `Home`. |
-| -ExplorerToThisPC                  |    Changes the page that File Explorer opens to to `This PC` |
+| -ExplorerToThisPC                  |    Changes the page that File Explorer opens to to `This PC`. |
-| -ExplorerToDownloads               |    Changes the page that File Explorer opens to to `Downloads` |
+| -ExplorerToDownloads               |    Changes the page that File Explorer opens to to `Downloads`. |
-| -ExplorerToOneDrive                |    Changes the page that File Explorer opens to to `OneDrive` |
+| -ExplorerToOneDrive                |    Changes the page that File Explorer opens to to `OneDrive`. |
 | -HideOnedrive                      |    Hide the OneDrive folder from the File Explorer navigation pane. (Windows 10 only) |
 | -Hide3dObjects                     |    Hide the 3D objects folder under 'This pc' in File Explorer. (Windows 10 only) |
 | -HideMusic                         |    Hide the music folder under 'This pc' in File Explorer. (Windows 10 only) |

Regfiles/Disable_Start_Recommended.reg

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
+"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start]
+"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Education]
+"IsEducationEnvironment"=dword:00000001
+
+; Change start menu layout to show more pins
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
+"Start_Layout"=dword:00000001

Regfiles/Sysprep/Disable_Start_Recommended.reg

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
+"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start]
+"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Education]
+"IsEducationEnvironment"=dword:00000001
+
+; Change start menu layout to show more pins
+[hkey_users\default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
+"Start_Layout"=dword:00000001

Regfiles/Undo/Enable_Start_Recommended.reg

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
+"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000000
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start]
+"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000000
+
+[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Education]
+"IsEducationEnvironment"=dword:00000000
+
+; Set start menu layout to default
+[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
+"Start_Layout"=dword:00000000

Win11Debloat.ps1

@@ -1018,7 +1018,7 @@ if ((-not $global:Params.Count) -or $RunDefaults -or $RunWin11Defaults -or $RunS
 
             Write-Output ""
 
-            if ($( Read-Host -Prompt "Do you want to make any changes to the taskbar and related services? (y/n)" ) -eq 'y') {
+            if ($( Read-Host -Prompt "Do you want to make any changes to the taskbar, start menu and related services? (y/n)" ) -eq 'y') {
                 # Only show these specific options for Windows 11 users running build 22000 or later
                 if ($WinVersion -ge 22000){
                     Write-Output ""
@@ -1077,6 +1077,14 @@ if ((-not $global:Params.Count) -or $RunDefaults -or $RunWin11Defaults -or $RunS
                         AddParameter 'HideChat' 'Hide the chat (meet now) icon from the taskbar'
                     }
                 }
+
+                if ($WinVersion -ge 22000){
+                    Write-Output ""
+
+                    if ($( Read-Host -Prompt "   Disable & hide the recommended section in the start menu? This applies to all users (y/n)" ) -eq 'y') {
+                        AddParameter 'DisableStartRecommended' 'Disable & hide the recommended section in the start menu.'
+                    }
+                }
             }
 
             Write-Output ""
@@ -1406,6 +1414,10 @@ else {
             RegImport "> Hiding the taskview button from the taskbar..." "Hide_Taskview_Taskbar.reg"
             continue
         }
+        'DisableStartRecommended' {
+            RegImport "> Disabling and hiding the start menu recommended section..." "Disable_Start_Recommended.reg"
+            continue
+        }
         'DisableCopilot' {
             RegImport "> Disabling & removing Windows Copilot..." "Disable_Copilot.reg"