I am Giving Up (Microsoft Edge no matter what keeps pinning itself)

GuineaPig · 09 Jan 2023

I have created a reference Windows 10 22H2 using MDT task sequence. Which uses a custom start menu and also has the Taskbar customization on it. I have set to remove exiting pinned default applications and use my own. I also have a task Sequence set that installs the latest version of Microsoft Edge.

The only issue is Microsoft Edge no matter what keeps on pinning itself to the Taskbar. I have done each and everything possible and gone through all references but without any success. Please help!

I am Giving Up (Microsoft Edge no matter what keeps pinning itself)-edge.jpg



<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<LayoutModificationTemplate

xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification"

xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"

xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"

xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"

Version="1">

<CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace">

<defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>

<taskbar:TaskbarPinList>

<taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Internet Explorer.lnk"/>

<taskbar:DesktopApp DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Paint.lnk" />

<taskbar:UWA AppUserModelID="Microsoft.Office.Word_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.word" />

</taskbar:TaskbarPinList>

</defaultlayout:TaskbarLayout>

</CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection>

</LayoutModificationTemplate>

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I have a .reg file that sets the custom start menu with Taskbar customization

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

"StartLayoutFile"=Path

Also set the GPO but the Microsoft Edge icon on taskbar that got pinned is still there.
We have around 40 computers and use Chrome as the default and don't wish the Edge to be there as we cannot uninstall.

Also, when Installing Microsoft Edge, I am using the following installation parameters

MsiExec.exe /i MicrosoftEdgeEnterpriseX64.msi /qn /norestart ADD_EXPLORER_CONTEXT_MENU_OPENPWA=0 PWA_DISABLE_APP_INSTALL_PROMPT=1 DISABLE_DEVELOPMENT_MODE=1 DISABLE_PDF_VIEWER=1 DISABLE_FILE_ASSOCIATIONS=1

Also, tried DONOTCREATETASKBARSHORTCUT=true on Edge installation parameter on the task sequence. Before sys prepping the icon isn't there, but it still creates the Evil Edge Icon after WDS deployment of the image on first login.

I want to completely disable the pinning capability of Evil Microsoft Edge please

Compumind · 09 Jan 2023

Hi.

Welcome to Windows Ten Forums!

Does this help for Windows 10?

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...c-d1810f9556ef

Why is Edge evil. lol?

NTN · 09 Jan 2023

How to uninstall Edge from Start menu and remove it from the Taskbar
Uninstall Microsoft Edge: Step-by-step guide
Remove Microsoft Edge: With Windows PowerShell
How to uninstall Microsoft Edge permanently

Uninstall Microsoft Edge? Here’s how to do it! - IONOS.

GuineaPig · 09 Jan 2023

Compumind said:

Hi.

Welcome to Windows Ten Forums!

Does this help for Windows 10?

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...c-d1810f9556ef

Why is Edge evil. lol?

I have already come across that post and it doesn’t work.

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NTN said:

How to uninstall Edge from Start menu and remove it from the Taskbar
Uninstall Microsoft Edge: Step-by-step guide
Remove Microsoft Edge: With Windows PowerShell
How to uninstall Microsoft Edge permanently

Uninstall Microsoft Edge? Here’s how to do it! - IONOS.

I need to keep Edge and I do not understand why you would post something irrelevant and provide suggestions on search sentences .. do you think I have come here without enough prior searches ??? I came here as a last resort

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I have used all possible powershell script to stop edge from pinning it to taskbar icons. also used chat gpt scripts none work

also the link is for Windows 11 and I don’t want to uninstall Edge but avoid it from pinning to taskbar

NTN · 09 Jan 2023

You could try reviewing the LayoutModification.xml file. If there's an Edge entry in there, it will just keep getting pinned to Taskbar.

The file is in %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell.

If the file exists, open it and look for a "CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection" section. Then check for any Edge related entries and delete those lines.

Also try to read:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...ut-xml-desktop

GuineaPig · 09 Jan 2023

There is no such file on 22H2 and I have already created the file myself and it doesn’t help.

RickC · 09 Jan 2023

Are you sure that it's not caused by the Internet Explorer link (line 21 in your LayoutModificationTemplate)?

I could be wrong but now that IE is deprecated I think I remember reading that going forward (from 21H2?) all UI links to IE will be converted to Edge and the only way to continue using IE is to call it programmatically.

garlin · 10 Jan 2023

Check out options 3 & 4:
The curious case of the pinned Microsoft Edge shortcut – Virtualwarlock.net

RickC · 10 Jan 2023

garlin said:

Check out options 3 & 4:
The curious case of the pinned Microsoft Edge shortcut – Virtualwarlock.net

An excellent find - thank you, @garlin - but another article about Active Setup recommends deleting a StubPath value instead of the GUID. It explains:

Deleting the StubPath value is the better option for one reason; Windows Updates periodically restores missing Active Setup GUID registry keys, while removed StubPath values will always be removed.

So, instead of Solution 3 in the Virtualwarlock article:

Code:

Remove-Item -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{9459C573-B17A-45AE-9F64-1857B5D58CEE}” -Force

Use this instead:

Code:

Set-Location HKLM:

This will set the drivepath.

Next, use the following to remove the data value from the StubPath entry:

Code:

Clear-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{9459C573-B17A-45AE-9F64-1857B5D58CEE}" -Name "StubPath" -Force

You can now unpin Edge from the taskbar and it shouldn't come back for any user.

Alternatively, just clear the data from within RegEdit:

I am Giving Up (Microsoft Edge no matter what keeps pinning itself)-activesetup-edge.png

Personally, I would suggest exporting the GUID before making any changes to it.

HKLM method tested on Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Hope this helps...

GuineaPig · 10 Jan 2023

RickC said:

Are you sure that it's not caused by the Internet Explorer link (line 21 in your LayoutModificationTemplate)?

I could be wrong but now that IE is deprecated I think I remember reading that going forward (from 21H2?) all UI links to IE will be converted to Edge and the only way to continue using IE is to call it programmatically.

No because that I posted as a sample
I have <CustomTaskbarLayoutCollection PinListPlacement="Replace">
and two custom shortcut icons added.

garlin said:

Check out options 3 & 4:
The curious case of the pinned Microsoft Edge shortcut – Virtualwarlock.net

This is outdated and doesn't work. I have Edge 108.0.1462.76 installed. The Edge Active Setup key does exist but without the stub path dword

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{9459C573-B17A-45AE-9F64-1857B5D58CEE}

I am Giving Up (Microsoft Edge no matter what keeps pinning itself)-edge-active-setup.jpg

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Edge doesn't have the TaskbarAutoPin dword

I am Giving Up (Microsoft Edge no matter what keeps pinning itself)-edge-autopin.jpg

While doing search via chatGPT and I imported that registry value during MDT deployment, and it made no difference. The Icon still got pinned.

Even TaskBar links set on the WDS answer file doesn't fix it. It will add the Icons I have set there but will also add Microsoft Edge. (THANK YOU MICROSOFT)

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RickC said:

Alternatively, just clear the data from within RegEdit:

Personally, I would suggest exporting the GUID before making any changes to it.

HKLM method tested on Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Hope this helps...

Hi, thank you but I am on Windows 10 Education and there is no stub path dword value on both HKLM and HKCU

HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{9459C573-B17A-45AE-9F64-1857B5D58CEE}