Questions from class: Centrally configure the start screen in windows 8.1

One question I got in yesterdays class was:

How do I customize the start screen for my Windows 8.1 users?

The answer is: You can use Powershell and the registry to set this up.

1. Start by logging in to a computer and set up the Start Meny to your liking.
2. Use the following Powershell command to export it:Export-StartLayout -Path “C:\StartLayout.xml”
   -As XML
3. On a DC, start Group Policy Management console and create/edit a policy with the following setting
   

   User Configuration – Policies – Admin Templates – Start Menu and Taskbar – Start Screen Layout: [Path to your XML file]

Note: This setting can be applied to either Users or Computers

Links:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn467928.aspx