setting up XP user defaults

[Boatman]

Just upgraded from W98 to XP-Pro and am setting it up for home use only. I
am the primary user. My wife and kids use it for simple stuff - mostly
internet access and games. I have made three user accounts: Me, my wife, and
guests. I would like to control over what my wife and guests see on their
desktops and startmenu, but I have had trouble doing that - XP won't let me.
Any ideas? Thanks!

Boatman

 

[CWatters]

Just upgraded from W98 to XP-Pro and am setting it up for home use only. I
am the primary user. My wife and kids use it for simple stuff - mostly
internet access and games. I have made three user accounts: Me, my wife, and
guests. I would like to control over what my wife and guests see on their
desktops and startmenu, but I have had trouble doing that - XP won't let me.
Any ideas? Thanks!

What you see on the desktop (and start menu) is a combination of shortcuts
that live in two places:

eg Shortcut icons on your desktop are in

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
and
C:\Documents and Settings\<user A account>\Desktop

If you put them in the first one they should appear on all users desktop
otherwise on the desktop of the individual accounts

To do this log on as an admin user, right click on Start and select "Explore
all users" (for example).

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Place shared items common to all users in these folders:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

Place items specific to that user or to yourself in the user profile folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Start Menu\Programs

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Boatman]

Thanks to CWatters and "Nutcase"... that did it.

Boatman