Scripted Windows 10 "Win+X" Menu (aka "Power User Menu")

!README.md

Scripted Win+X shortcuts

Using this in tandem with ListShortcuts.csx becomes a simple scripted backup/restore mechanism for porting your favorite WinX shortcuts to other machines, etc.

sample usage:

• scriptcs ListShortCuts.csx -- "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX\Group3" > FaveLinks.md
• scriptcs WinXCreate.csx -- FaveLinks.md

handy nuggets:

• WinX GUI Tool
• WinX folder: cd %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX
• Reset Explorer to see changes: cmd /c taskkill /im explorer.exe /f & start explorer.exe
• Making CSX directly executable like batch files

Sample Screenshot

.gitignore

# Created by https://www.gitignore.io/api/visualstudiocode,vim

### Vim ###
# Swap
[._]*.s[a-v][a-z]
[._]*.sw[a-p]
[._]s[a-rt-v][a-z]
[._]ss[a-gi-z]
[._]sw[a-p]

# Session
Session.vim

# Temporary
.netrwhist
*~
# Auto-generated tag files
tags
# Persistent undo
[._]*.un~

### VisualStudioCode ###
.vscode/*
!.vscode/settings.json
!.vscode/tasks.json
!.vscode/launch.json
!.vscode/extensions.json


# End of https://www.gitignore.io/api/visualstudiocode,vim

ClearGroup3.cmd

rmdir /s /q "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX\Group3"
rmdir /s /q "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX\Group4"

FaveLinks.md

Display Name	Target	Working Dir	Elevated	Arguments
WARTHURTON-W540	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOELEVATE /D="C:" "C:\Windows\System32\explorer.exe"
CMD	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOELEVATE "C:\Users\warthurton\scoop\apps\cmder\current\Cmder.exe /START %userprofile%\Downloads""
Process Explorer	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\ProgramData\scoop\apps\sysinternals\current\procexp.exe"
Certs	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\certlm.msc"
Environment Variables	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables"
Uninstall Apps	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}"
Device Manager	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\control.exe /name Microsoft.DeviceManager"
Event Viewer	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\eventvwr.exe"
Disk Management	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\diskmgmt.msc"
Services	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\services.msc"
Local Security Policy	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\secpol.msc /s"
Local Users	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\lusrmgr.msc"
Power	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL PowerCfg.cpl @0,/editplan:381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e"
System	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\control.exe /name Microsoft.System"
PowerShell ISE	C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell_ise.exe		False
Task Scheduler	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\taskschd.msc /s"
WinXEditor	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Utils\app\WinXMenuEditor\WinXEditor.exe"

FaveLinks3.md

Display Name	Target	Working Dir	Elevated	Arguments
CMD	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOELEVATE "C:\Users\warthurton\scoop\apps\cmder\current\Cmder.exe /START %userprofile%\Downloads""
Process Explorer	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\ProgramData\scoop\apps\sysinternals\current\procexp.exe"
Certs	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\certlm.msc"
Environment Variables	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables"
Uninstall Apps	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}"
Device Manager	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\control.exe /name Microsoft.DeviceManager"
Event Viewer	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\eventvwr.exe"
Disk Management	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\diskmgmt.msc"
Services	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\services.msc"
Local Security Policy	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\secpol.msc /s"
Local Users	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\lusrmgr.msc"
Power	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL PowerCfg.cpl @0,/editplan:381b4222-f694-41f0-9685-ff5bb260df2e"
System	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Windows\System32\control.exe /name Microsoft.System"
PowerShell ISE	C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell_ise.exe		False
Task Scheduler	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC /SHELL "C:\Windows\System32\taskschd.msc /s"
WinXEditor	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOUAC "C:\Utils\app\WinXMenuEditor\WinXEditor.exe"

FaveLinks4.md

Display Name	Target	Working Dir	Elevated	Arguments
WARTHURTON-W540	C:\Utils\hstart\hstart.exe		False	/NOELEVATE /D="C:" "C:\Windows\System32\explorer.exe"

Interop.IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll

ListShortcuts.csx

#r "Interop.IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll"
//generated by referencing "Windows Script Host Object Model" in Visual Studio project

//from here: http://stackoverflow.com/a/4909475/813599
using IWshRuntimeLibrary;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;

private bool IsElevated(string lnkFile)
{
  using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(lnkFile, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read))
  {
    fs.Seek(21, SeekOrigin.Begin);
    return (fs.ReadByte() == 0x22);
  }
}

private void Main() {  
  if (Env.ScriptArgs.Count < 1) {Console.WriteLine("must provide path"); return;}

  var wsh = new WshShell();
  var shortcutFileNames = System.IO.Directory.EnumerateFiles(Env.ScriptArgs[0], "*.lnk").ToArray();

  Console.WriteLine("Display Name | Target | Working Dir | Elevated | Arguments");
  Console.WriteLine("--- | --- | --- | --- | ---");

  for (var i=shortcutFileNames.Length-1; i>-1; i--) //Win+X menu is structured in reverse order
  {
    var fn = shortcutFileNames[i];
    var title = Regex.Match(fn, ".*?- (.*?).lnk").Groups[1].Value;
    var sc = (IWshShortcut)wsh.CreateShortcut(fn);
    Console.WriteLine($"{title} | {sc.TargetPath} | {sc.WorkingDirectory} | {IsElevated(fn)} | {sc.Arguments}");
  }
}

Main();

Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.dll

Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell.dll

RefreshWinX.cmd

call ClearGroup3
scriptcs WinXCreate.csx -- FaveLinks3.md
scriptcs WinXCreate.csx -- FaveLinks4.md
tk explorer

tk.cmd

taskkill /im %1.exe /f
if "%1" == "explorer" start explorer

WinXCreate.csx

#r "Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell.dll"
#r "Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.dll"
#r "Interop.IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll"

using IWshRuntimeLibrary;
using Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

internal class ReverseSorter : System.Collections.IComparer
{
  int System.Collections.IComparer.Compare(object x, object y)
  {
    return new System.Collections.CaseInsensitiveComparer().Compare(y, x);
  }
}

private static readonly KeyValuePair<string, string>[] SystemFolderMapping = new[]
{
  new KeyValuePair<string, string>(Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%programfiles%").ToLower(), "{905E63B6-C1BF-494E-B29C-65B732D3D21A}"),
  new KeyValuePair<string, string>(Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%windir%\\system32").ToLower(), "{1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}"),
  new KeyValuePair<string, string>(Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%windir%").ToLower(), "{F38BF404-1D43-42F2-9305-67DE0B28FC23}"),
  new KeyValuePair<string, string>(Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%systemroot%").ToLower(), "{F38BF404-1D43-42F2-9305-67DE0B28FC23}")
};

private static readonly WshShell wsh = new WshShell();

private static readonly string WinXFolder = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(@"%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX");
private static readonly System.Collections.IComparer ReverseSort = new ReverseSorter();

public static class WinXHasher
{
  [DllImport("Shlwapi.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, ExactSpelling = true, SetLastError=true)]
  internal static extern int HashData([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPArray, ArraySubType = UnmanagedType.U1, SizeParamIndex = 1)] [In] byte[] pbData, int cbData, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPArray, ArraySubType = UnmanagedType.U1, SizeParamIndex = 3)] [Out] byte[] piet, int outputLen);

  private static bool _isFileList = false;
  private static string _groupFolderPath;
  public static void HashLnk(string lnkFile)
  {
    if (Path.GetExtension(lnkFile)?.ToLower() != ".lnk")
    {
      if (_isFileList) return;
      _isFileList = true;
      if (_groupFolderPath == null) {
        _groupFolderPath = Path.Combine(WinXFolder, "Group"+GetNextMaxGroup());
        Directory.CreateDirectory(_groupFolderPath);
      }
      var lines = System.IO.File.ReadAllLines(lnkFile);
      for (var lineNum=0; lineNum < lines.Length-2; lineNum++) //skip first 2 header lines
      {
        var line = lines[lineNum+2]; //skip first 2 header lines
        var chunks = line.Split('|');
        if (chunks.Length != 5) {
          Console.WriteLine("Listing file needs to be lines in following bar separated format (no quotes):");
          Console.WriteLine("Display Name | exe path | Elevated (True/False) | Arguments");
          return;
        }
        var title = chunks[0].Trim();
        var lnkPath = Path.Combine(_groupFolderPath, 
            //the menu structure works in reverse of the top to bottom order in the shortcuts listing file
            (lines.Length - lineNum).ToString().PadLeft(2, '0') + " - " + title + ".lnk");
        var wshShortcut = (IWshShortcut)wsh.CreateShortcut(lnkPath);
        wshShortcut.Description = title;
        wshShortcut.TargetPath = chunks[1].Trim();
	wshShortcut.WorkingDirectory = chunks[2].Trim();
        bool isElevated; bool.TryParse(chunks[3].Trim(), out isElevated);
        wshShortcut.Arguments = chunks[4].Trim();
        
        Console.WriteLine($"lnk: {lnkPath}, target: {wshShortcut.TargetPath}, args: {wshShortcut.Arguments}");
        wshShortcut.Save();
        
        if (isElevated) ElevateLnk(lnkPath);
        
        HashLnk(lnkPath); 
      }
      return;
    }
  
    var lnk = (IWshShortcut)wsh.CreateShortcut(lnkFile);
    
    var text = lnk.TargetPath;
    
    // ReSharper disable once LoopCanBeConvertedToQuery
    foreach(var kv in SystemFolderMapping) text = text.ToLower().Replace(kv.Key, kv.Value);

    //this is the magic kicker that makes the shortcuts special and show up in the start menu
    //lifted following hash algorithm from: http://winaero.com/download.php?view.21
    if (lnk.Arguments.Length > 0) text += lnk.Arguments;
    //this magic string appears to be necessary for the hash to be accepted by Windows
    text += "do not prehash links.  this should only be done by the user.";
    text = text.ToLower();
    var inBytes = Encoding.GetEncoding(1200).GetBytes(text);
    var byteCount = inBytes.Length;
    var outBytes = new byte[byteCount];
    var hashResult = HashData(inBytes, byteCount, outBytes, byteCount);
    if (hashResult != 0) throw new Exception("Shlwapi::HashData failed: {Marshal.GetLastWin32Error()}");
    using (var propertyWriter = ShellFile.FromFilePath(lnkFile).Properties.GetPropertyWriter())
    {
      propertyWriter.WriteProperty("System.Winx.Hash", BitConverter.ToUInt32(outBytes, 0));
    }
  }
  
  private static int GetNextMaxGroup()
  {
    var directories = Directory.GetDirectories(WinXFolder, "Group*", SearchOption.TopDirectoryOnly);
    Array.Sort(directories, ReverseSort);
    foreach (var path in directories)
    {
      var s = Path.GetFileName(path)?.Substring(5).Trim();
      if (s == null) continue;
      int result;
      if (int.TryParse(s, out result)) return result+1;
    }
    return 0;
  }

  //from: http://blog.coretech.dk/hra/create-shortcut-with-elevated-rights/
  private static void ElevateLnk(string lnkFile)
  {
    using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(lnkFile, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.ReadWrite))
    {
      fs.Seek(21, SeekOrigin.Begin);
      fs.WriteByte(0x22);
    }
  }
  
}

WinXHasher.HashLnk(Env.ScriptArgs[0]);