Store user data (backups, logs, settings) under LocalAppData, update start menu backup creation

Run.bat

@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
 :: Set Windows Terminal installation paths. (Default and Scoop installation)
 set "wtDefaultPath=%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe"
 set "wtScoopPath=%USERPROFILE%\scoop\apps\windows-terminal\current\wt.exe"
-set "logFile=%~dp0Logs\Win11Debloat-Run.log"
+set "logFile=%LOCALAPPDATA%\Win11Debloat\Logs\Win11Debloat-Run.log"
 
 :: Ensure Logs folder exists
-if not exist "%~dp0Logs" mkdir "%~dp0Logs"
+if not exist "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Win11Debloat\Logs" mkdir "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Win11Debloat\Logs"
 
 :: Determine which terminal exists
 if exist "%wtDefaultPath%" (

Scripts/Features/ReplaceStartMenu.ps1

@@ -113,7 +113,12 @@ function ReplaceStartMenu {
         return
     }
 
-    $backupBinFile = $startMenuBinFile + ".bak"
+    $startMenuBackupsDir = Join-Path $script:AppDataPath 'Backups'
+    if (-not (Test-Path $startMenuBackupsDir)) {
+        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $startMenuBackupsDir -Force | Out-Null
+    }
+    $backupTimestamp = (Get-Date).ToString('yyyyMMdd_HHmmss')
+    $backupBinFile = Join-Path $startMenuBackupsDir "Win11Debloat-Start2BinBackup-$userName-$backupTimestamp.bak"
 
     if (Test-Path $startMenuBinFile) {
         # Backup current start menu file
@@ -221,16 +226,18 @@ function RestoreStartMenuFromBackup {
     )
 
     $userName = GetStartMenuUserNameFromPath -StartMenuBinFile $StartMenuBinFile
+    $backupTimestamp = (Get-Date).ToString('yyyyMMdd_HHmmss')
+    $startMenuBackupsDir = Join-Path $script:AppDataPath 'Backups'
     $backupBinFile = if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($BackupFilePath)) {
-        $StartMenuBinFile + '.bak'
+        Join-Path $startMenuBackupsDir "Win11Debloat-Start2BinBackup-$userName-$backupTimestamp.bak"
     }
     else {
         $BackupFilePath
     }
-    $currentBinBackup = $StartMenuBinFile + '.restore.bak'
+    $currentBinBackup = Join-Path $startMenuBackupsDir "Win11Debloat-Start2BinRestore-$userName-$backupTimestamp.bak"
 
     if ($script:Params.ContainsKey("WhatIf")) {
-        Write-Host "[WhatIf] Restore start menu for user $userName from backup $backupBinFile" -ForegroundColor Cyan
+        Write-Host "[WhatIf] Restore start menu for user $userName from backup $BackupFilePath" -ForegroundColor Cyan
         return [PSCustomObject]@{
             UserName = $userName
             Result = $true
@@ -238,11 +245,11 @@ function RestoreStartMenuFromBackup {
         }
     }
 
-    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $backupBinFile)) {
+    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $BackupFilePath)) {
         return [PSCustomObject]@{
             UserName = $userName
             Result = $false
-            Message = "No start menu backup file found for user $userName."
+            Message = "Start menu backup file not found: $BackupFilePath"
         }
     }
 
@@ -251,7 +258,7 @@ function RestoreStartMenuFromBackup {
             Move-Item -Path $StartMenuBinFile -Destination $currentBinBackup -Force
         }
 
-        Copy-Item -Path $backupBinFile -Destination $StartMenuBinFile -Force
+        Copy-Item -Path $BackupFilePath -Destination $StartMenuBinFile -Force
         return [PSCustomObject]@{
             UserName = $userName
             Result = $true
@@ -278,17 +285,14 @@ function RestoreStartMenuFromBackup {
     be resolved.
 
     .PARAMETER BackupFilePath
-    Path to the backup file to restore from. If omitted, defaults to
+    Path to the backup file to restore from.
-    the .bak file alongside the current start2.bin.
 
     .EXAMPLE
-    RestoreStartMenu
+    RestoreStartMenu -BackupFilePath "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Win11Debloat\Backups\Win11Debloat-Start2BinBackup-Jeff-20260623_143000.bak"
-
-    .EXAMPLE
-    RestoreStartMenu -BackupFilePath "C:\Backups\start2.bin"
 #>
 function RestoreStartMenu {
     param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)]
         [string]$BackupFilePath
     )
 
@@ -315,22 +319,19 @@ function RestoreStartMenu {
 
     .DESCRIPTION
     Iterates over every existing user profile and restores each user's
-    start2.bin from its .bak backup. For the Default user profile, removes
+    start2.bin from the specified backup file. For the Default user profile,
-    the start2.bin file (which was previously copied from a template) so
+    removes the start2.bin file (which was previously copied from a template)
-    that new profiles revert to the system default start menu.
+    so that new profiles revert to the system default start menu.
 
     .PARAMETER BackupFilePath
-    Path to the backup file to restore from. If omitted, defaults to
+    Path to the backup file to restore from.
-    the .bak file alongside each user's current start2.bin.
 
     .EXAMPLE
-    RestoreStartMenuForAllUsers
+    RestoreStartMenuForAllUsers -BackupFilePath "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Win11Debloat\Backups\Win11Debloat-Start2BinBackup-Jeff-20260623_143000.bak"
-
-    .EXAMPLE
-    RestoreStartMenuForAllUsers -BackupFilePath "C:\Backups\start2.bin"
 #>
 function RestoreStartMenuForAllUsers { 
     param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory)]
         [string]$BackupFilePath
     )
 

Scripts/GUI/Show-MainWindow.ps1

@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
     $menuReportBug.Add_Click({ Start-Process "https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat/issues" })
 
     $menuLogs.Add_Click({
-        $logsFolder = Join-Path (Split-Path (Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent) -Parent) 'Logs'
+        $logsFolder = Split-Path $script:DefaultLogPath -Parent
         if (Test-Path $logsFolder) {
             Start-Process "explorer.exe" -ArgumentList $logsFolder
         }

Scripts/GUI/Show-RestoreBackupDialog.ps1

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ function Show-RestoreBackupDialog {
     $startMenuIntroPanel = $window.FindName('StartMenuIntroPanel')
     $startMenuScopeCombo = $window.FindName('StartMenuScopeCombo')
     $startMenuAutoBackupCheck = $window.FindName('StartMenuAutoBackupCheck')
+    $startMenuAutoBackupCheck.Visibility = 'Collapsed'
     $introInfoPanel = $window.FindName('IntroInfoPanel')
     $overviewPanel = $window.FindName('OverviewPanel')
     $overviewFeaturesSection = $window.FindName('OverviewFeaturesSection')
@@ -148,9 +149,8 @@ function Show-RestoreBackupDialog {
             return
         }
 
-        $isAutoBackupEnabled = ($startMenuAutoBackupCheck.IsChecked -eq $true)
+        $hasSelectedFile = -not [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($state.SelectedStartMenuBackupFilePath)
-        $hasSelectedManualFile = -not [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($state.SelectedStartMenuBackupFilePath)
+        if ($hasSelectedFile) {
-        if ($isAutoBackupEnabled -or $hasSelectedManualFile) {
             $primaryActionBtn.Content = 'Restore backup'
         }
         else {
@@ -302,15 +302,11 @@ function Show-RestoreBackupDialog {
     }
 
     $handleStartMenuPrimaryAction = {
-        $scope = (& $getStartMenuScopeInfo).Scope
+        if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($state.SelectedStartMenuBackupFilePath)) {
-        $useManualBackupFile = -not ($startMenuAutoBackupCheck.IsChecked -eq $true)
-
-        if ($useManualBackupFile -and [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($state.SelectedStartMenuBackupFilePath)) {
             $openDialog = New-Object Microsoft.Win32.OpenFileDialog
             $openDialog.Title = 'Select Start Menu Backup File'
             $openDialog.Filter = 'Start Menu backup (*.bak)|*.bak'
-            $openDialog.InitialDirectory = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState"
+            $openDialog.InitialDirectory = (Join-Path $script:AppDataPath 'Backups')
-            $openDialog.DefaultExt = '.bak'
 
             if ($openDialog.ShowDialog($window) -ne $true) {
                 return
@@ -322,34 +318,10 @@ function Show-RestoreBackupDialog {
             return
         }
 
-        if (-not $useManualBackupFile) {
+        $scope = (& $getStartMenuScopeInfo).Scope
-            $autoBackupExists = $false
-            if ($scope -eq 'AllUsers') {
-                $userPathString = GetUserDirectory -userName "*" -fileName "AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState"
-                $usersStartMenuPaths = Get-ChildItem -Path $userPathString -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
-                foreach ($startMenuPath in $usersStartMenuPaths) {
-                    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath (Join-Path $startMenuPath.FullName 'start2.bin.bak')) {
-                        $autoBackupExists = $true
-                        break
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-            else {
-                $autoBackupPath = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\start2.bin.bak"
-                $autoBackupExists = Test-Path -LiteralPath $autoBackupPath
-            }
-
-            if (-not $autoBackupExists) {
-                $scopeText = (& $getStartMenuScopeInfo).SummaryText
-                Show-MessageBox -Owner $window -Title 'No Backup Found' -Message "No Start Menu backup file was found. You can uncheck the 'Automatically find Start Menu backup' option to select a backup file manually." -Button 'OK' -Icon 'Warning' | Out-Null
-                return
-            }
-        }
-
         $window.Tag = @{
             Result = 'RestoreStartMenu'
             StartMenuScope = $scope
-            UseManualBackupFile = $useManualBackupFile
             BackupFilePath = $state.SelectedStartMenuBackupFilePath
         }
         $window.DialogResult = $true
@@ -368,14 +340,6 @@ function Show-RestoreBackupDialog {
         }
     }
 
-    $startMenuAutoBackupCheck.Add_Checked({
-        $state.SelectedStartMenuBackupFilePath = $null
-        & $refreshStartMenuUi
-    })
-    $startMenuAutoBackupCheck.Add_Unchecked({
-        & $refreshStartMenuUi
-    })
-
     $startMenuScopeCombo.Add_SelectionChanged({
         & $refreshStartMenuUi
     })
@@ -410,7 +374,6 @@ function Show-RestoreBackupDialog {
 
         if ($state.WizardStep -eq 'StartMenu') {
             $state.SelectedStartMenuBackupFilePath = $null
-            $startMenuAutoBackupCheck.IsChecked = $true
         }
 
         & $setWizardStep 'SelectType'

Scripts/GUI/Show-RestoreBackupWindow.ps1

@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ function Show-RestoreBackupWindow {
         }
         elseif ($dialogResult.Result -eq 'RestoreStartMenu') {
             $scope = $dialogResult.StartMenuScope
-            $useManualBackupFile = ($dialogResult.UseManualBackupFile -eq $true)
             $backupFilePath = $null
             if ($dialogResult -is [hashtable] -and $dialogResult.ContainsKey('BackupFilePath')) {
                 $backupFilePath = $dialogResult['BackupFilePath']
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ function Show-RestoreBackupWindow {
                 $backupFilePath = $dialogResult.BackupFilePath
             }
 
-            if ($useManualBackupFile -and [string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($backupFilePath)) {
+            if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($backupFilePath)) {
                 throw 'Start Menu restore canceled: no backup file selected.'
             }
 

Scripts/Get-Dev.ps1

@@ -131,31 +131,12 @@ catch {
     Exit
 }
 
-# Remove old script folder if it exists, but keep configs, logs and backups
+# Remove old script folder if it exists
 if (Test-Path $tempWorkPath) {
     Write-Output ""
     Write-Output "> Cleaning up old Win11Debloat folder..."
 
-    Get-ChildItem -Path $tempWorkPath -Exclude Config,Logs,Backups | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
+    Remove-Item $tempWorkPath -Recurse -Force
-}
-
-$configDir = Join-Path $tempWorkPath 'Config'
-$backupDir = Join-Path $tempWorkPath 'ConfigOld'
-
-# Temporarily move existing config files if they exist to prevent them from being overwritten by the new script files, will be moved back after the new script is unpacked
-if (Test-Path "$configDir") {
-    Write-Output ""
-    Write-Output "> Backing up existing config files..."
-
-    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "$backupDir" -Force | Out-Null
-
-    $filesToKeep = @(
-        'LastUsedSettings.json'
-    )
-
-    Get-ChildItem -Path "$configDir" -Recurse | Where-Object { $_.Name -in $filesToKeep } | Move-Item -Destination "$backupDir"
-
-    Remove-Item "$configDir" -Recurse -Force
 }
 
 Write-Output ""
@@ -170,19 +151,6 @@ Remove-Item $tempArchivePath
 # Move files
 Get-ChildItem -Path (Join-Path $tempWorkPath '*Win11Debloat-*') -Recurse | Move-Item -Destination $tempWorkPath
 
-# Add existing config files back to Config folder
-if (Test-Path "$backupDir") {
-    if (-not (Test-Path "$configDir")) {
-        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "$configDir" -Force | Out-Null
-    }
-
-    Write-Output ""
-    Write-Output "> Restoring existing config files..."
-
-    Get-ChildItem -Path "$backupDir" -Recurse | Move-Item -Destination "$configDir"
-    Remove-Item "$backupDir" -Recurse -Force
-}
-
 # Make list of arguments to pass on to the script
 $arguments = $($PSBoundParameters.GetEnumerator() | ForEach-Object {
     if ($_.Value -eq $true) {
@@ -219,13 +187,12 @@ if ($null -ne $debloatProcess) {
     $debloatProcess.WaitForExit()
 }
 
-# Remove all remaining script files, except for configs, logs and backups
+# Remove all remaining script files
 if (Test-Path $tempWorkPath) {
     Write-Output ""
     Write-Output "> Cleaning up..."
 
-    # Cleanup, remove Win11Debloat directory
+    Remove-Item $tempWorkPath -Recurse -Force
-    Get-ChildItem -Path $tempWorkPath -Exclude Config,Logs,Backups | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
 }
 
 Write-Output ""

Scripts/Get.ps1

@@ -132,31 +132,12 @@ catch {
     Exit
 }
 
-# Remove old script folder if it exists, but keep configs, logs and backups
+# Remove old script folder if it exists
 if (Test-Path $tempWorkPath) {
     Write-Output ""
     Write-Output "> Cleaning up old Win11Debloat folder..."
 
-    Get-ChildItem -Path $tempWorkPath -Exclude Config,Logs,Backups | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
+    Remove-Item $tempWorkPath -Recurse -Force
-}
-
-$configDir = Join-Path $tempWorkPath 'Config'
-$backupDir = Join-Path $tempWorkPath 'ConfigOld'
-
-# Temporarily move existing config files if they exist to prevent them from being overwritten by the new script files, will be moved back after the new script is unpacked
-if (Test-Path "$configDir") {
-    Write-Output ""
-    Write-Output "> Backing up existing config files..."
-
-    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "$backupDir" -Force | Out-Null
-
-    $filesToKeep = @(
-        'LastUsedSettings.json'
-    )
-
-    Get-ChildItem -Path "$configDir" -Recurse | Where-Object { $_.Name -in $filesToKeep } | Move-Item -Destination "$backupDir"
-
-    Remove-Item "$configDir" -Recurse -Force
 }
 
 Write-Output ""
@@ -171,19 +152,6 @@ Remove-Item $tempArchivePath
 # Move files
 Get-ChildItem -Path (Join-Path $tempWorkPath '*Win11Debloat-*') -Recurse | Move-Item -Destination $tempWorkPath
 
-# Add existing config files back to Config folder
-if (Test-Path "$backupDir") {
-    if (-not (Test-Path "$configDir")) {
-        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path "$configDir" -Force | Out-Null
-    }
-
-    Write-Output ""
-    Write-Output "> Restoring existing config files..."
-
-    Get-ChildItem -Path "$backupDir" -Recurse | Move-Item -Destination "$configDir"
-    Remove-Item "$backupDir" -Recurse -Force
-}
-
 # Make list of arguments to pass on to the script
 $arguments = $($PSBoundParameters.GetEnumerator() | ForEach-Object {
     if ($_.Value -eq $true) {
@@ -220,13 +188,12 @@ if ($null -ne $debloatProcess) {
     $debloatProcess.WaitForExit()
 }
 
-# Remove all remaining script files, except for configs, logs and backups
+# Remove all remaining script files
 if (Test-Path $tempWorkPath) {
     Write-Output ""
     Write-Output "> Cleaning up..."
 
-    # Cleanup, remove Win11Debloat directory
+    Remove-Item $tempWorkPath -Recurse -Force
-    Get-ChildItem -Path $tempWorkPath -Exclude Config,Logs,Backups | Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
 }
 
 Write-Output ""

Win11Debloat.ps1

@@ -139,17 +139,17 @@ if (-not $isAdmin) {
 # Define script-level variables & paths
 $script:Version = "2026.06.14"
 $configPath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Config'
-$logsPath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Logs'
 $schemasPath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Schemas'
 $scriptsPath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Scripts'
 
+$script:AppDataPath = Join-Path $env:LOCALAPPDATA 'Win11Debloat'
 $script:AppsListFilePath = Join-Path $configPath 'Apps.json'
 $script:DefaultSettingsFilePath = Join-Path $configPath 'DefaultSettings.json'
 $script:FeaturesFilePath = Join-Path $configPath 'Features.json'
-$script:SavedSettingsFilePath = Join-Path $configPath 'LastUsedSettings.json'
+$script:SavedSettingsFilePath = Join-Path $script:AppDataPath 'LastUsedSettings.json'
-$script:DefaultLogPath = Join-Path $logsPath 'Win11Debloat.log'
+$script:DefaultLogPath = Join-Path (Join-Path $script:AppDataPath 'Logs') 'Win11Debloat.log'
 $script:RegfilesPath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Regfiles'
-$script:RegistryBackupsPath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Backups'
+$script:RegistryBackupsPath = Join-Path $script:AppDataPath 'Backups'
 $script:AssetsPath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Assets'
 $script:AppSelectionSchema = Join-Path $schemasPath 'AppSelectionWindow.xaml'
 $script:MainWindowSchema = Join-Path $schemasPath 'MainWindow.xaml'