Default user registry settings

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ethan Kiczek
  • Start date Start date
E

Ethan Kiczek

I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
following with registry settings or other hacks?:

- Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
- Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
Computer (or any folders)
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

Thanks in advance,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
 
You can create a profile the way you like it, then while logged on as
another user (with administrative rights) Control Panel|System|User
Profiles, select the profile you adjusted, Copy To, Browse to
%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\Default User
Change "Permitted to use:" to "Everyone" OK

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
| specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
| from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
| following with registry settings or other hacks?:
|
| - Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
| - Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
| http://www.msn.com
| - Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
| Computer (or any folders)
| - Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar
|
| Thanks in advance,
|
| Ethan
|
| Ethan Kiczek
| Manager for INformation Technology
| Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
| http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
|
 
You can create a profile the way you like it, then while logged on as
another user (with administrative rights) Control Panel|System|User
Profiles, select the profile you adjusted, Copy To, Browse to
%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\Default User
Change "Permitted to use:" to "Everyone" OK

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
| specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
| from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
| following with registry settings or other hacks?:
|
| - Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
| - Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
| http://www.msn.com
| - Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
| Computer (or any folders)
| - Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar
|
| Thanks in advance,
|
| Ethan
|
| Ethan Kiczek
| Manager for INformation Technology
| Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
| http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
|
 
Thanks, Dave. I meant to mention in my original post that "Copy To"
isn't going to work here, for a variety of reasons.

I'm actually trying to make all of these changes (and others) via
registry changes and other hacks. For example, I know I can load the
NTUSER.DAT for the Default User and make changes like:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]
"FullPath"=dword:00000001

so that I can see the full path in the title bar.

I'd like to make similar registry changes (or other hacks) for the rest
of the items posted.

Thanks,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
 
Thanks, Dave. I meant to mention in my original post that "Copy To"
isn't going to work here, for a variety of reasons.

I'm actually trying to make all of these changes (and others) via
registry changes and other hacks. For example, I know I can load the
NTUSER.DAT for the Default User and make changes like:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]
"FullPath"=dword:00000001

so that I can see the full path in the title bar.

I'd like to make similar registry changes (or other hacks) for the rest
of the items posted.

Thanks,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
 
Ask in an IE group or possibly use
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/regmon.shtml
to locate the affected values.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| Thanks, Dave. I meant to mention in my original post that "Copy To"
| isn't going to work here, for a variety of reasons.
|
| I'm actually trying to make all of these changes (and others) via
| registry changes and other hacks. For example, I know I can load the
| NTUSER.DAT for the Default User and make changes like:
|
|
[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Cabine
tState]
| "FullPath"=dword:00000001
|
| so that I can see the full path in the title bar.
|
| I'd like to make similar registry changes (or other hacks) for the rest
| of the items posted.
|
| Thanks,
|
| Ethan
|
| Ethan Kiczek
| Manager for INformation Technology
| Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
| http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
 
Ask in an IE group or possibly use
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/regmon.shtml
to locate the affected values.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| Thanks, Dave. I meant to mention in my original post that "Copy To"
| isn't going to work here, for a variety of reasons.
|
| I'm actually trying to make all of these changes (and others) via
| registry changes and other hacks. For example, I know I can load the
| NTUSER.DAT for the Default User and make changes like:
|
|
[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Cabine
tState]
| "FullPath"=dword:00000001
|
| so that I can see the full path in the title bar.
|
| I'd like to make similar registry changes (or other hacks) for the rest
| of the items posted.
|
| Thanks,
|
| Ethan
|
| Ethan Kiczek
| Manager for INformation Technology
| Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
| http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
 
I've been trying to use REGMON for a few hours now, but I'm stumped. It
seems to identify registry keys, but I can't discover which values it is
adding/modifying/changing. Any suggestions?
 
I've been trying to use REGMON for a few hours now, but I'm stumped. It
seems to identify registry keys, but I can't discover which values it is
adding/modifying/changing. Any suggestions?
 
To partially answer my own questions:
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
Click to expand...

Do this by loading up the NTUSER.DAT hive
(http://www.jsiinc.com/suba/tip0100/rh0105.htm) and making the following
change:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.myhomepage.com/"
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar
Click to expand...

From a DOS prompt:
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
copy "<name of the link icon.lnk" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default
User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\."

I'm still working on the other two. If anyone has any idea on those,
please let me know.

Thanks,

Ethan
 
To partially answer my own questions:
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
Click to expand...

Do this by loading up the NTUSER.DAT hive
(http://www.jsiinc.com/suba/tip0100/rh0105.htm) and making the following
change:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.myhomepage.com/"
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar
Click to expand...

From a DOS prompt:
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
copy "<name of the link icon.lnk" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default
User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\."

I'm still working on the other two. If anyone has any idea on those,
please let me know.

Thanks,

Ethan
 
Remember also you can also use gpedit on the computer to create a policy-eg.
remove IExplore icon from desktop


Ethan Kiczek said:
To partially answer my own questions:
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
Click to expand...

Do this by loading up the NTUSER.DAT hive
(http://www.jsiinc.com/suba/tip0100/rh0105.htm) and making the following
change:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.myhomepage.com/"
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar
Click to expand...

From a DOS prompt:
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
copy "<name of the link icon.lnk" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default
User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\."

I'm still working on the other two. If anyone has any idea on those,
please let me know.

Thanks,

Ethan

Ethan said:
I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
following with registry settings or other hacks?:

- Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
- Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
Computer (or any folders)
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

Thanks in advance,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Remember also you can also use gpedit on the computer to create a policy-eg.
remove IExplore icon from desktop


Ethan Kiczek said:
To partially answer my own questions:
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
Click to expand...

Do this by loading up the NTUSER.DAT hive
(http://www.jsiinc.com/suba/tip0100/rh0105.htm) and making the following
change:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.myhomepage.com/"
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar
Click to expand...

From a DOS prompt:
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
copy "<name of the link icon.lnk" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default
User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\."

I'm still working on the other two. If anyone has any idea on those,
please let me know.

Thanks,

Ethan

Ethan said:
I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
following with registry settings or other hacks?:

- Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
- Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
Computer (or any folders)
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

Thanks in advance,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Can you please explain how to do this or point me to a page which
explains this. Many people refer to group policies as the answer to
almost all Windows tweaking issues, and yet I've never been able to
create a policy... only to turn on and off existing ones.

Thanks,

Ethan

David said:
Remember also you can also use gpedit on the computer to create a policy-eg.
remove IExplore icon from desktop


To partially answer my own questions:
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
Click to expand...

Do this by loading up the NTUSER.DAT hive
(http://www.jsiinc.com/suba/tip0100/rh0105.htm) and making the following
change:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.myhomepage.com/"
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar
Click to expand...

From a DOS prompt:
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
copy "<name of the link icon.lnk" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default
User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\."

I'm still working on the other two. If anyone has any idea on those,
please let me know.

Thanks,

Ethan

Ethan said:
I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
following with registry settings or other hacks?:

- Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
- Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
Computer (or any folders)
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

Thanks in advance,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Can you please explain how to do this or point me to a page which
explains this. Many people refer to group policies as the answer to
almost all Windows tweaking issues, and yet I've never been able to
create a policy... only to turn on and off existing ones.

Thanks,

Ethan

David said:
Remember also you can also use gpedit on the computer to create a policy-eg.
remove IExplore icon from desktop


To partially answer my own questions:
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
Click to expand...

Do this by loading up the NTUSER.DAT hive
(http://www.jsiinc.com/suba/tip0100/rh0105.htm) and making the following
change:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.myhomepage.com/"
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar
Click to expand...

From a DOS prompt:
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
copy "<name of the link icon.lnk" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default
User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\."

I'm still working on the other two. If anyone has any idea on those,
please let me know.

Thanks,

Ethan

Ethan said:
I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
following with registry settings or other hacks?:

- Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
- Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
Computer (or any folders)
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

Thanks in advance,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Here's what I know:-

Well it depends whether you're part of an Active Directory network or not.
If you are then computers can have policies set as a group, this is
downloaded to every pc and overrides any 'preferences'/profile settings. If
you are still on NT / not Active Directory (NT had policies but it was a
pretty crude) you can use gpedit.exe (located in c:\winnt\system32) in a
limited way-the problem is that any settings/restrictions are also imposed
on the administrator account also! (so take care)

The real benefit of Group Policy is of course with Active Directory and
means less reliance on user profiles in general whether default user or
roaming profiles






Ethan Kiczek said:
Can you please explain how to do this or point me to a page which
explains this. Many people refer to group policies as the answer to
almost all Windows tweaking issues, and yet I've never been able to
create a policy... only to turn on and off existing ones.

Thanks,

Ethan

David said:
Remember also you can also use gpedit on the computer to create a policy-eg.
remove IExplore icon from desktop


To partially answer my own questions:

- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com

Do this by loading up the NTUSER.DAT hive
(http://www.jsiinc.com/suba/tip0100/rh0105.htm) and making the following
change:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.myhomepage.com/"

- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

From a DOS prompt:
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
copy "<name of the link icon.lnk" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default
User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\."

I'm still working on the other two. If anyone has any idea on those,
please let me know.

Thanks,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek wrote:

I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
following with registry settings or other hacks?:

- Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
- Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
Computer (or any folders)
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

Thanks in advance,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Here's what I know:-

Well it depends whether you're part of an Active Directory network or not.
If you are then computers can have policies set as a group, this is
downloaded to every pc and overrides any 'preferences'/profile settings. If
you are still on NT / not Active Directory (NT had policies but it was a
pretty crude) you can use gpedit.exe (located in c:\winnt\system32) in a
limited way-the problem is that any settings/restrictions are also imposed
on the administrator account also! (so take care)

The real benefit of Group Policy is of course with Active Directory and
means less reliance on user profiles in general whether default user or
roaming profiles






Ethan Kiczek said:
Can you please explain how to do this or point me to a page which
explains this. Many people refer to group policies as the answer to
almost all Windows tweaking issues, and yet I've never been able to
create a policy... only to turn on and off existing ones.

Thanks,

Ethan

David said:
Remember also you can also use gpedit on the computer to create a policy-eg.
remove IExplore icon from desktop


To partially answer my own questions:

- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com

Do this by loading up the NTUSER.DAT hive
(http://www.jsiinc.com/suba/tip0100/rh0105.htm) and making the following
change:

[HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.myhomepage.com/"

- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

From a DOS prompt:
mkdir "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application
Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
copy "<name of the link icon.lnk" "C:\Documents and Settings\Default
User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\."

I'm still working on the other two. If anyone has any idea on those,
please let me know.

Thanks,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek wrote:

I'm trying to create a Windows 2000 SP4 image which will have very
specific settings for any new user (who will get their initial profile
from the Default User profile). Can anyone tell me how to do the
following with registry settings or other hacks?:

- Remove the Internet Explorer icon from the Desktop
- Set the default Internet Explorer home page to something other than
http://www.msn.com
- Set the Detail View as the default view when double-clicking on My
Computer (or any folders)
- Place two icons in the Quick Launch toolbar

Thanks in advance,

Ethan

Ethan Kiczek
Manager for INformation Technology
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University
http://www.wcfia.harvard.edu
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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