KB3000850 Breaks Start Screen Layout Tiles

Hi All,

I have a problem which is a direct cause of KB3000850, this affects both 64bit and 32bit variants.

We use GPO to apply a start screen layout xml file to our users.

On a PC without KB3000850 it works fine, however if you install this update it breaks the layout.

I've read online a couple of other instances of this, but no concrete fix.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Andy


PS - incidentally, this issue is reintroduced by the December Rollup KB3013769
  • Edited by AndyKUK Monday, January 19, 2015 11:41 AM
January 19th, 2015 9:24am

Hi,

Just in case anyone trips over this post after having this issue and not finding the answer.

Here it is, it took a paid support call to MS but the answer is......... it's by design.

The key part here is Windows 8.1 Professional vs Windows 8.1 Enterprise

Prior to these updates, the policy to apply start screen layout via policy worked on Professional and Enterprise.

The fact it did work on Processional was a BUG, it was ONLY intended to work in Enterprise.

The update rollups fix the bug, and hence break a previously working solution for 8.1 Professional users.

The fixes are either the workaround I noted above (copying in file) or changing to 8.1 Enterprise.

Just an additional note on my workaround, if you are using a login script to copy the file, do it is a logoff script instead. The reason is that if you have it as a login script and a brand new user logs in, the profile creation process has a bit of a fit as you have copied in part of a profile, so instead of seeing the 'Hi...... We're setting things up for you.....' part, the PC just sits for about 5-10 mins and then eventually logs in.

If you set it to a logoff script then the login processes normally, even for brand new users, and the file copies without a hitch on logoff. It takes an extra login for brand new users to see the screen layout but hey, its better than a 10min first login.

So, no fix from MS, as the fix is the reason for the break in functionality.

Yes, by the letter of the policy it is correct, but we have been robbed of a perfectly working piece of functionality that some people may have been using extensively.

Thanks

  • Proposed as answer by DonPick Monday, February 23, 2015 8:44 AM
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February 20th, 2015 5:07pm

Hi,

KB3000850 has changed from optional update to critical update!
 (KB3013769 is optional update.)

So,I've reinstalled KB3000850, the start screen layout problem Does Occur!

Very disappointing.

Thanks

March 4th, 2015 5:18am

Hi,

KB3000850 has changed from optional update to critical update!
 (KB3013769 is optional update.)

So,I've reinstalled KB3000850, the start screen layout problem Does Occur!

Very disappointing.

Thanks


Yup, 750MB 'Critical Update' and under Security which is actually a Roll up, so if you use WSUS and decide not to have Roll Ups, you still get this one.
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March 4th, 2015 2:50pm

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