Link3

Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

Link3 specifies the path to the first available program shortcut on the taskbar.

Note

Any item that is pinned to the taskbar will not appear in the Start menu list of most frequently used programs.

We recommend that you add shortcut files to the All Users Start menu, for example: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Fabrikam\Application.lnk.

We do not recommend adding the shortcut by using the environment variable: %USERPROFILE%. Shortcuts added by using %USERPROFILE% are applied only to the profile of the next user to log on to the computer. Also, if the setting is applied during the auditUser configuration pass, the shortcut is applied only to the temporary administrator account, which is removed after exiting audit mode.

Certain programs cannot be added to the taskbar. For a list of these programs, see this MSDN website.

This setting has no effect on Server Core installations of Windows Server® 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012.

Values

Path_to_first_link

Specifies the path to the first shortcut on the taskbar. Path_to_first_link is a string with a maximum length of 259 characters.

Path_to_first_link specifies the complete path and the file name of a shortcut file with an .lnk file name extension. The path to the shortcut file must refer to a location on the destination computer.

The shortcut file must include the complete path and file name of a corresponding program file with an .exe file name extension. The path to the program file must refer to a location on the destination computer.

This string type does not support empty elements. Do not create an empty value for this setting.

Valid Configuration Passes

auditUser

oobeSystem

specialize

Parent Hierarchy

Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup | TaskbarLinks | Link3

Applies To

For a list of the supported Windows editions and architectures that this component supports, see Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup.

XML Example

The following XML output shows how to add shortcuts for Remote Desktop Connection, Sound Recorder in the desktop, calculator in the desktop, Snipping Tool, Sticky Notes, and Wordpad on the taskbar.

<TaskbarLinks>
   <Link0>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Remote Desktop Connection.lnk</Link0>
   <Link1>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Sound Recorder.lnk</Link1>
   <Link2>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Calculator.lnk</Link2>
   <Link3>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Snipping Tool.lnk</Link3>
   <Link4>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Sticky Notes.lnk</Link4>
   <Link5>%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Wordpad.lnk</Link5>
</TaskbarLinks>

See Also

Concepts

TaskbarLinks