Below is how we stopped modifying the Start Menu & Task Bar shortcuts on our Default Image (GOLD IMAGE) using MDT 2013 Task Sequence. This applies to Windows 7 and I’m sure it could be modified to work with Windows 8.1. Check it out below and let me know if you have any questions.
To do this, you are going to need the following scripts in a folder on your MDT 2013 Server.
Copy_To_Default_User_Startup.cmd
copy "\\mdtserver01\DeploymentShare$\Applications\Set_TaskBar_&_StartMenu_Shortcuts\RunDefaultUserStartupScripts.vbs" "C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" /Y
copy "\\mdtserver01\DeploymentShare$\Applications\Set_TaskBar_&_StartMenu_Shortcuts\SetTaskBar.vbs" "C:\Users\Public\Downloads" /Y
copy "\\mdtserver01\DeploymentShare$\Applications\Set_TaskBar_&_StartMenu_Shortcuts\PinStartMenuShortcuts.bat" "C:\Users\Public\Downloads" /Y
copy "\\mdtserver01\DeploymentShare$\Applications\Set_TaskBar_&_StartMenu_Shortcuts\PinItem.vbs" "C:\Users\Public\Downloads" /Y
RunDefaultUserStartupScript.vbs
'HideCMDWindow Script
CreateObject("Wscript.Shell").Run "C:\Users\Public\Downloads\SetTaskBar.vbs", 0, True
CreateObject("Wscript.Shell").Run "C:\Users\Public\Downloads\PinStartMenuShortcuts.bat", 0, true
SetTaskBar.vbs (I got this from somewhere online and modified it a bit, sorry I can’t give credit where credit is due)
Option Explicit
Const CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS = &H17
Const CSIDL_PROGRAMS = &H2
Const CSIDL_STARTMENU = &HB
Dim objShell, objFSO
Dim objCurrentUserStartFolder
Dim strCurrentUserStartFolderPath
Dim objAllUsersProgramsFolder
Dim strAllUsersProgramsPath
Dim objFolder
Dim objFolderItem
Dim colVerbs
Dim objVerb
Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objCurrentUserStartFolder = objShell.NameSpace (CSIDL_STARTMENU)
strCurrentUserStartFolderPath = objCurrentUserStartFolder.Self.Path
Set objAllUsersProgramsFolder = objShell.NameSpace(CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS)
strAllUsersProgramsPath = objAllUsersProgramsFolder.Self.Path
' - Remove pinned items -
'Internet Explorer
If objFSO.FileExists(strCurrentUserStartFolderPath & "\Programs\Internet Explorer.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strCurrentUserStartFolderPath & "\Programs")
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Internet Explorer.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Unpin from Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Windows Explorer
If objFSO.FileExists(strCurrentUserStartFolderPath & "\Programs\Accessories\Windows Explorer.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strCurrentUserStartFolderPath & "\Programs\Accessories")
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Windows Explorer.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Unpin from Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Windows Media Player
If objFSO.FileExists(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Windows Media Player.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strAllUsersProgramsPath)
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Windows Media Player.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Unpin from Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
' - Pin to Taskbar -
'Google Chrome C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome
If objFSO.FileExists(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Google Chrome\Google Chrome.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Google Chrome")
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Google Chrome.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Mozilla Firefox
If objFSO.FileExists(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Mozilla Firefox.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strAllUsersProgramsPath)
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Mozilla Firefox.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Internet Explorer
If objFSO.FileExists(strCurrentUserStartFolderPath & "\Programs\Internet Explorer.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strCurrentUserStartFolderPath & "\Programs")
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Internet Explorer.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Microsoft Outlook 2013
If objFSO.FileExists(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Microsoft Office 2013\Outlook 2013.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Microsoft Office 2013")
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Outlook 2013.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Microsoft Word 2013
If objFSO.FileExists(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Microsoft Office 2013\Word 2013.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Microsoft Office 2013")
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Word 2013.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Microsoft Excel 2013
If objFSO.FileExists(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Microsoft Office 2013\Excel 2013.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Microsoft Office 2013")
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("Excel 2013.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Microsoft PowerPoint 2013
If objFSO.FileExists(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Microsoft Office 2013\PowerPoint 2013.lnk") Then
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strAllUsersProgramsPath & "\Microsoft Office 2013")
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName("PowerPoint 2013.lnk")
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
For Each objVerb in colVerbs
If Replace(objVerb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Taskbar" Then objVerb.DoIt
Next
End If
'Delete the script
DeleteSelf
Sub DeleteSelf()
End Sub
PinStartMenuShortcuts.bat
cscript C:\Users\Public\Downloads\PinItem.vbs /item:"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Outlook 2013.lnk"
cscript C:\Users\Public\Downloads\PinItem.vbs /item:"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Mozilla Firefox.lnk"
cscript C:\Users\Public\Downloads\PinItem.vbs /item:"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Excel 2013.lnk"
cscript C:\Users\Public\Downloads\PinItem.vbs /item:"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\PowerPoint 2013.lnk"
cscript C:\Users\Public\Downloads\PinItem.vbs /item:"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Word 2013.lnk"
cscript C:\Users\Public\Downloads\PinItem.vbs /item:"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Publisher 2013.lnk"
cscript C:\Users\Public\Downloads\PinItem.vbs /item:"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\iTunes.lnk"
PinItem.vbs (same with this one, I can’t remember where I found it but who ever they are, they are awesome!)
' Windows Script Host Sample Script
'
' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Copyright (C) 2009 Microsoft Corporation
'
' You have a royalty-free right to use, modify, reproduce and distribute
' the Sample Application Files (and/or any modified version) in any way
' you find useful, provided that you agree that Microsoft and the author
' have no warranty, obligations or liability for any Sample Application Files.
' ------------------------------------------------------------------------
'********************************************************************
'*
'* File: PinItem.vbs
'* Date: 03/04/2009
'* Version: 1.0.2
'*
'* Main Function: VBScipt to pin an item to the Start Menu or Taskbar
'*
'* Usage: cscript PinItem.vbs /item:<path to exe>
'* [/taskbar] [/?]
'*
'* Copyright (C) 2009 Microsoft Corporation
'*
'* Revisions:
'*
'* 1.0.0 - 04/03/2008 - Created.
'* 1.0.1 - 03/02/2009 - Used Replace in PinItem function to remove "&"
'* from verb.
'* 1.0.2 - 03/04/2009 - Script name was PinToStartMenu.vbs. Added
'* /taskbar switch to pin items to taskbar on
'* Win7.
'*
'********************************************************************
'*****************************************************************************
'* Declare Variables
'*****************************************************************************
Option Explicit
'On Error Resume Next
Dim blnPinned
Dim blnTaskbar
Dim i
Dim intOpMode
Dim objWshShell
Dim objFSO
Dim objShell
Dim strPath
Dim strArguments
Dim strOptionsMessage
' Define constants
Const CONST_ERROR = 0
Const CONST_WSCRIPT = 1
Const CONST_CSCRIPT = 2
Const CONST_SHOW_USAGE = 3
Const CONST_PROCEED = 4
Const CONST_STRING_NOT_FOUND = -1
Const CONST_FOR_READING = 1
Const CONST_FOR_WRITING = 2
Const CONST_FOR_APPENDING = 8
Const CONST_Success = 0
Const CONST_Failure = 1
Const TRISTATE_USE_DEFAULT = -2
Const TRISTATE_TRUE = -1 'Open the file as Unicode.
Const TRISTATE_FALSE = 0 'Open the file as ASCII.
blnTaskbar = False
'*****************************************************************************
'* Create Objects
'*****************************************************************************
Set objWshShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
'********************************************************************
'* Check script host exe and parse command line
'********************************************************************
'Get the command line arguments
For i = 0 to Wscript.arguments.count - 1
ReDim Preserve arrArguments(i)
arrArguments(i) = Wscript.arguments.item(i)
Next
'Check whether the script is run using CScript
Select Case intChkProgram()
Case CONST_CSCRIPT
'Do Nothing
Case CONST_WSCRIPT
WScript.Echo "Please run this script using CScript." & vbCRLF & _
"This can be achieved by" & vbCRLF & _
"1. Using ""CScript MODIFYUSERS.vbs arguments"" for Windows 95/98 or" & VbCrLf & _
"2. Changing the default Windows Scripting Host setting to CScript" & vbCRLF & _
" using ""CScript //H:CScript //S"" and running the script using" & vbCRLF & _
" ""MODIFYUSERS.vbs arguments"" for Windows NT."
WScript.Quit
Case Else
WScript.Quit
End Select
'Parse the command line
Err.Clear()
intOpMode = intParseCmdLine(arrArguments, strPath, blnTaskbar, strOptionsMessage)
If Err.Number Then
Wscript.Echo "Error 0X" & CStr(Hex(Err.Number)) & " occurred in parsing the command line."
If Err.Description <> "" Then
Wscript.Echo "Error description: " & Err.Description & "."
End If
'WScript.quit
End If
Select Case intOpMode
Case CONST_SHOW_USAGE
Call ShowUsage()
WScript.quit
Case CONST_PROCEED
'Do nothing.
Case CONST_ERROR
WScript.quit
Case Else
Wscript.Echo "Error occurred in passing parameters."
End Select
'********************************************************************
'* Main Script
'********************************************************************
WScript.Echo strOptionsMessage
blnPinned = PinItem(strPath, blnTaskbar)
WScript.Echo "Item pinned: " & CStr(blnPinned)
If blnPinned Then
WScript.Quit(0)
Else
WScript.Quit(1)
End If
'********************************************************************
'*
'* Function intChkProgram()
'*
'* Purpose: Determines which program is used to run this script.
'*
'* Input: None
'*
'* Returns: intChkProgram is set to one of CONST_ERROR, CONST_WSCRIPT,
'* and CONST_CSCRIPT.
'*
'********************************************************************
Private Function intChkProgram()
ON ERROR RESUME NEXT
Dim i
Dim j
Dim strFullName
Dim strCommand
'strFullName should be something like C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\CSCRIPT.EXE
strFullName = WScript.FullName
If Err.Number then
Wscript.Echo "Error 0x" & CStr(Hex(Err.Number)) & " occurred."
If Err.Description <> "" Then
Wscript.Echo "Error description: " & Err.Description & "."
End If
intChkProgram = CONST_ERROR
Exit Function
End If
i = InStr(1, strFullName, ".exe", 1)
If i = 0 Then
intChkProgram = CONST_ERROR
Exit Function
Else
j = InStrRev(strFullName, "\", i, 1)
If j = 0 Then
intChkProgram = CONST_ERROR
Exit Function
Else
strCommand = Mid(strFullName, j+1, i-j-1)
Select Case LCase(strCommand)
Case "cscript"
intChkProgram = CONST_CSCRIPT
Case "wscript"
intChkProgram = CONST_WSCRIPT
Case Else 'should never happen
Wscript.Echo "An unexpected program is used to run this script."
Wscript.Echo "Only CScript.Exe or WScript.Exe can be used to run this script."
intChkProgram = CONST_ERROR
End Select
End If
End If
End Function
'********************************************************************
'*
'* Function intParseCmdLine()
'*
'* Purpose: Parses the command line.
'*
'* Input: arrArguments An array containing input from the command line
'*
'* Input: strPath Path of exe to pin
'* strOptionsMessage String containing options selected
'*
'* Returns: intParseCmdLine is set to one of CONST_ERROR, CONST_SHOW_USAGE,
'* and CONST_PROCEED.
'*
'********************************************************************
Private Function intParseCmdLine(arrArguments, strPath, blnTaskbar, strOptionsMessage)
ON ERROR RESUME NEXT
Dim i
Dim strFlag
Dim strSwitchValue
strFlag = arrArguments(0)
Err.Clear()
'Help is needed
If (strFlag = "") OR (strFlag="help") OR (strFlag="/h") OR (strFlag="\h") OR (strFlag="-h") _
OR (strFlag = "\?") OR (strFlag = "/?") OR (strFlag = "?") OR (strFlag="h") Then
intParseCmdLine = CONST_SHOW_USAGE
Exit Function
End If
strOptionsMessage = strOptionsMessage & "" & VbCrLf
strOptionsMessage = strOptionsMessage & WScript.ScriptName & VbCrLf
strOptionsMessage = strOptionsMessage & "" & VbCrLf
strOptionsMessage = strOptionsMessage & "Command Line Options:" & vbCrLf
strOptionsMessage = strOptionsMessage & "=======================================" & VbCrLf
For i = 0 to UBound(arrArguments)
strFlag = Left(arrArguments(i), InStr(1, arrArguments(i), ":")-1)
If Err.Number Then 'An error occurs if there is no : in the string
Err.Clear
Select Case LCase(arrArguments(i))
Case "/q"
blnQuiet = True
strOptionsMessage = strOptionsMessage & "Supress Console Output: " & blnQuiet & VbCrLf
Case "/taskbar"
blnTaskbar = True
strOptionsMessage = strOptionsMessage & "Pin to Taskbar instead of Start Menu: " & blnTaskbar & VbCrLf
Case Else
Wscript.Echo arrArguments(i) & " is not recognized as a valid input."
intParseCmdLine = CONST_ERROR
Exit Function
End Select
Else
strSwitchValue = Right(arrArguments(i), Len(arrArguments(i))-(Len(strFlag)+1))
Select Case LCase(strFlag)
Case "/item"
strPath = strSwitchValue
strOptionsMessage = strOptionsMessage & "Item to pin to Start Menu or Taskbar: " & strPath & VbCrLf
Case else
Wscript.Echo "Invalid flag " & strFlag & "."
Wscript.Echo "Please check the input and try again."
intParseCmdLine = CONST_ERROR
Exit Function
End Select
End If
Next
If (strPath = "") Then
Wscript.Echo "The /item switch is required"
Wscript.Echo "Please check the input and try again."
intParseCmdLine = CONST_ERROR
Exit Function
End If
intParseCmdLine = CONST_PROCEED
End Function
'********************************************************************
'*
'* Function PinItem()
'*
'* Purpose: Pin item to the Start Menu.
'*
'* Input: strlPath Path of exe to pin
'* blnTaskbar Pin item to Taskbar instead of Start Menu if true
'*
'* Dependencies: objShell Shell.Application object
'* objFSO File System object
'*
'* Returns: True if the shortcut is created, else false
'*
'********************************************************************
Function PinItem(strlPath, blnTaskbar)
On Error Resume Next
Dim colVerbs
Dim itemverb
Dim objFolder
Dim objFolderItem
Dim strFolder
Dim strFile
If objFSO.FileExists(strlPath) Then
'***** Do nothing, folder exists
Else
'***** Folder does not exist
PinItem = False
WScript.Echo "File to pin does not exist."
WScript.Echo "Please check the input and try again."
Exit Function
End If
strFolder = objFSO.GetParentFolderName(strlPath)
strFile = objFSO.GetFileName(strlPath)
WScript.Echo "Folder: " & strFolder
WScript.Echo "File: " & strFile
Err.Clear
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(strFolder)
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.ParseName(strFile)
' ***** InvokeVerb for this does not work on Vista/WS2008
'objFolderItem.InvokeVerb("P&in to Start Menu")
' ***** This code works on Vista/WS2008
Set colVerbs = objFolderItem.Verbs
If blnTaskbar Then
For each itemverb in objFolderItem.verbs
If Replace(itemverb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Taskbar" Then itemverb.DoIt
Next
Else
For each itemverb in objFolderItem.verbs
If Replace(itemverb.name, "&", "") = "Pin to Start Menu" Then itemverb.DoIt
Next
End If
If Err.Number = 0 Then
PinItem = True
Else
PinItem = False
End If
End Function
'********************************************************************
'*
'* Sub ShowUsage()
'*
'* Purpose: Shows the correct usage to the user.
'*
'* Input: None
'*
'* Output: Help messages are displayed on screen.
'*
'********************************************************************
Sub ShowUsage()
WScript.Echo "This script is used to Pin items to the Start Menu or Taskbar."
WScript.Echo ""
WScript.Echo "Usage: cscript " & WScript.ScriptName & " [options]"
WScript.Echo ""
WScript.Echo "Options:"
WScript.Echo ""
WScript.Echo " /item:<PathName> Path of item to pin."
WScript.Echo ""
WScript.Echo " /taskbar (Optional) Pin to Taskbar instead of Start Menu."
WScript.Echo ""
WScript.Echo " /? (Optional) Displays this help text."
WScript.Echo ""
WScript.Echo ""
WScript.Echo ""
End Sub
MDT 2013:
On your MDT 2013 DeploymentShare$, add an application by right clicking the “Applications” node and selecting “New Application”

In the new dialogue box, select “Application without source files or elsewhere on the network” radius button.

Select Next and fill out the information as you would like it to appear (I choose to name my Application as “Set_TaskBar_&_StartMenu_Shortcuts” but it’s up to you. If you use something else, then change the first script above accordingly)
Select Next, then in the Command Line field type “Copy_To_Default_User_Startup.cmd”
In the “Working directory” field, type: “.\Applications\Set_TaskBar_&_StartMenu_Shortcuts”

Select Next, then Finish.
Now, right click your newly created application and select properties
Select the check box on the bottom left hand corner of the “General” tab that says “Hide this application in the Deployment Wizard”
Next, add all the scripts above to your %DeployRoot%\Applications\Set_TaskBar_&_StartMenu_Shortcuts folder.
After adding the scripts to this folder, go back to the Deployment Workbench and right click your Task Sequence for Windows 7 and select Properties
Under the State Restore section of the Task Sequence, add a “Custom Task” after your “Install Applications” item in the Task Sequence.
You can add the “Custom Task” in many different ways but I like to create a “New Group” after either my “Install Applications” or “Windows Update (Post-Application Installation)”: Please see below:

After creating the “New Group” you can name it anything but I choose to name mine as “Custom Task”.
Next, you need to add the application to your Task Sequence by selecting the “New Group” and clicking on Add->General->Install Application.
Configure your new Application as the screenshot

Press Apply, then Ok.
When ever I make changes to my DeploymentShare I always update my Deployment Share for safe measures. It’s also because I never want to forgot to do it when I really need too.
You should now have a new application that will set the Task Bar and your Start Menu Shortcuts without having to set them in your base image.
Enjoy!
p.s. I know there is probably a better way of organizing these scripts but in a pinch they worked and I haven’t gone back to look at other ways of doing it.