Applying registry changes to all users

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Guest

I have a registry file that I use to setup multiple computers. I use it to
apply visual settings and to basicly setup the user account as I want it.

As an example here is one of the keys I import:

Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects
"VisualFXSetting"=dword:00000003

By default the VisualFXSetting can be found under HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21(continues with random numbers)

Right now I can apply the reg changes to HKLM and HKCU but I don't know how
to get it to automatically detect and change the key for the HKU since it is
different on each machine. Which means instead of spending 3 seconds
configuring an account I have to go through and manually configure all of the
various settings that are controlled by those keys.

I need to know how to automatically detect and change the VisualFXSetting
under the HKU key, or if there is a way to automatically find all instances
of "VisualFXSetting" and have them all changed to the same setting.
 
Any changes made in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive will also be made in the
corresponding keys in HKEY_USERS\Security ID (SID) of current user subkey.
And vice versa.

The HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree contains the user profile for the user who is
currently logged on to the computer.

The information in HKEY_CURRENT_USER is built from the HKEY_USERS key during
the logon process. Therefore, all information found in the
HKEY_CURRENT_USER key is a copy of the subkey HKEY_USERS\username, where
username is the name of the active user (or Default).

The HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree does not contain any data. It just stores a
pointer to the content of the HKEY_USERS\Security ID (SID) of current user
subkey. Therefore, the content of that subkey also appears in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER, and it can be viewed and changed in either location. The
HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree just provides easier access to the data.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER Contains the user profile for the user who is currently
logged on interactively (as opposed to remotely), including environment
variables, desktop settings, network connections, printers, and program
preferences. This subtree is an alias of the HKEY_USERS subtree and points
to HKEY_USERS\security ID of current user.

The HKEY_USERS subtree contains all actively loaded user profiles.
HKEY_USERS has at least three keys:

• .DEFAULT

• A subkey named for the Security Identifier (SID) of the current local
user. This subkey contains the current user's profile. The data in
HKEY_USERS\SID also appears in HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

• A subkey named for the Security Identifier (SID) of the current local
user with the _Classes suffix. This subkey contains the current user's
Classes. The data in HKEY_USERS\SID\_Classes is also contained in
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

Reference:

About the Windows Registry
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...Serv/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/RegTopics.asp

Description of HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry Subkeys
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310595

Registry overview
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ard/proddocs/en-us/sag_ntregconcepts_yynh.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
That was very helpful. It also shows me that I have a problem with my initial
deployment / setup technique. I'm going to list the areas that I normally
setup and would like to configure automatically from computer to computer. If
you can help out with this it would be greatly appreciated.

The following are under Control panel - System
Advanced - Performance settings - visual effects
I want to be able to configure all of the visual effects automatically

Advanced - Error reporting
Disable error reporting

Advanced - Startup and Recovery - system failure
disable - send an administrative alert
disable - automatically restart

Remote
Disable Remote Assistance
Disable Remote Desktop

Automatic Updates
turn off

System Restore
Turn off system restore

The rest has to do with the taskbar / start menu
Start menu - Classic
Disable the following
Lock the taskbar
Group similar taskbar buttons
Show Quick Launch
Hide inactive icons

Those are the areas that the majority of the time I have to configure by
hand and I would prefer to do them automatically. Thank you
 
I know nothing about deploying anything. Maybe someone else will post.

Why don't you make all the settings in Group Policy templates (*.adm files)
and deploy those. I would think that you could set 'em up one time and then
just deploy them. There may be a learning curve, but once you have them set
up, there you are.

Recommendations for managing Group Policy administrative template (.adm)
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=816662

Group Policy Settings Reference for .adm files included with Windows XP
Professional Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...2F-DA15-438D-8E48-45915CD2BC14&displaylang=en

Recommendations for managing Group Policy administrative template (.adm)
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;816662

Writing Custom ADM Files for System Policy Editor
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/225087

Using Administrative Template Files with Registry-Based Group Policy
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pr...er2003/technologies/management/gp/admtgp.mspx

HOW TO: Create Custom Administrative Templates in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;323639

There are .adm files for Office as well.

HOW TO: Create Custom Administrative Templates in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;323639

Office 2003 Policy Template Files and Deployment Planning Tools
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011513711033.aspx

Office 2000 System Policy Reference
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/CH011492771033.aspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
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