Microsoft KB Archive/236938

= Programs Assigned in the Directory May Not Populate the Start Menu on Client Computers =

Article ID: 236938

Article Last Modified on 2/27/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

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This article was previously published under Q236938



SYMPTOMS
If an administrator assigns a large number of programs and a user logs on before all of the programs have had time to replicate throughout the enterprise, some programs icons may not appear on the Start menu. On subsequent logons by the user, the missing programs still do not populate the Start menu.



CAUSE
In this case, the software installation extension determines that it has applied the policy, even though it was incomplete, and therefore will not attempt to reapply the policy at subsequent logons. The software installation extension has no way of determining the replication state before running to verify that there are pending changes in a program's deployment state.



RESOLUTION
As a best practice, administrators should assign large numbers of programs when users will not be actively logging on and off to allow for replication to take place before users log on and receive the software deployments.

To fix the partial software policy state, make a minor change to the policy, such as changing the automatic install state, to force the policy to be re-initialized on the clients. Do not perform a redeployment because doing so has the potential to remove programs while users are working in them, and cause data loss.



STATUS
This behavior is by design

Keywords: kbenv kbprb KB236938

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