[boggsie]

I don't know for certain if this is it, but PROVXML sometimes chokes on special characters, like the ampersand.

change:
 
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Pictures & Videos.lnk" translation="install">
 
to:
 
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Pictures &amp; Videos.lnk" translation="install">

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<wap-provisioningdoc>
  <!-- Delete Program locations installed by ppcKitchen and moved to initflashfiles.txt -->
  <characteristic type="FileOperation">
    <!-- \Windows\Start Menu -->
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Windows Media.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Calendar.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <!-- \Windows\Start Menu\Programs -->
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ActiveSync.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Calculator.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Camera.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\File Explorer.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Pictures &amp; Videos.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Internet Sharing.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Notes.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\QuickMenu.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Search.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
    <characteristic type="\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Tasks.lnk" translation="install">
      <characteristic type="Delete">
        <parm name="ForceDelete" />
      </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
  </characteristic>
</wap-provisioningdoc>

Best regards,
-boggsie