Start Screen Layout - Backup and Restore in Windows 8

How to Backup and Restore Start Screen Layout in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
A Start screen layout includes pinned items (files, folders, apps, programs, and drives), and how app tiles are organized and named.

This tutorial will show you how to backup and copy/restore your Start screen layout automatically with one click in Windows 8 and 8.1.

This can be handy if you do not want to have to setup your Start screen layout again say after a clean install of Windows 8. You could also use this to copy the Start screen layout from one user account to another user account.

Note   Note
By default, your pinned Start items are saved in the files at both hidden folder locations below. These files is what this tutorial will be backing up and restoring for you automatically using a BAT file.

C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\appsFolder.itemdata-ms

C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\appsFolder.itemdata-ms.bak


EXAMPLE: Start Screen in Windows 8
Start.jpg





OPTION ONE

To Back Up Start Screen Layout in Windows 8


1. Sign in to the user account that you want to backup the Start screen layout of.​
2. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, then run it.​
Backup-Start_Screen_Layout.bat
download
3. If prompted, click/tap on Run.​
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.​
4. You will now have a Start-Screen-Layout-Backup folder on your desktop. Move this folder to where you like for safe keeping.​
NOTE: Do not rename this folder since it must remain the exact same name to be able to use it in OPTION TWO below to restore your Start screen layout with.​



OPTION TWO

To Copy or Restore Start Screen Layout in Windows 8


1. If you have not already, make sure that any 3rd party programs that were pinned to your Start screen when the backup was created in OPTION ONE are still installed to the same location first.​
warning   Warning
Since the pinned Start items are just shortcuts that point to the file, app, program, folder, drive, etc..., these files/programs must still be at the same location when the backup was created before restoring the pinned Start items.

2. Sign in to the user account that you want to copy/restore the Start screen layout backup, and move or copy the Start-Screen-Layout-Backup folder created from OPTION ONE above to the desktop of that account.​
3. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, then run it.​
Restore-Start_Screen_Layout.bat
download
4. If prompted, click/tap on Run.​
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.​
5. You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted.​
6. The Start screen layout has now been restored.​


That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Backup-Start_Screen_Layout.bat
    477 bytes · Views: 2,096
  • Restore-Start_Screen_Layout.bat
    471 bytes · Views: 1,807
  • Start_Screen.png
    Start_Screen.png
    520 bytes · Views: 315
Last edited:
Guy you are very good, i read your tutorials some years now from w7 forum and i can say that you are the best.
Thank you very much for sharing all these.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 7 x64 ult - 8.1 x64 ent
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    QuadCore Intel Core i7-960, 3333 MHz (25 x 133)
    Motherboard
    Asus Rampage III Extreme
    Memory
    Mushkin 991679 (996679) 6x2 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 4890 1GB GDDR5 x2 crossfire
    Sound Card
    default motherboard sound card
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo Nanao S2110W (Digital)
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD3000HLFS
    WDC WD5000AAKS
    ST31000524AS
    ST31000524AS
    PSU
    CoolerMaster Ucp Series PSU (1100W)
    Case
    Lian Li PC-V1110B Black Case (C99.V1110.B0)
    Cooling
    Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Intel BP CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Filco Majestouch Linear US ASCII 104 Cherry Black Switch Model
    Mouse
    Logitech G9
    Internet Speed
    20480 / real 9600 kbit/s
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky
You're most welcome Vags, and welcome to Eight Forums. I'm glad that they could help. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Back
Top