I've been looking at my Windows 2000 Pro local group policy, and
comparing it with the Group Policy Reference spreadsheet available from
microsoft.com. I've noticed some things that the spreadsheet says
Windows 2000 should have are not available in the group policy editor.
For example, there should be a policy called "Remove Set Program Access
and Defaults from Start menu", but it's not in the group policy editor.

I noticed that I can download the Windows XP .ADM files from
microsoft.com, so I'm wondering if I can replace my Windows 2000 .ADM
files with the XP files? That way my group policy editor would have
all of the latest stuff. But would it add anything that only works on
Windows XP?

If this is a safe thing to do, then is it just a matter of overwriting
my .ADM files with the XP files, and then rebooting?

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
Hi,

> I noticed that I can download the Windows XP .ADM files from
> microsoft.com, so I'm wondering if I can replace my Windows 2000 .ADM
> files with the XP files? That way my group policy editor would have
> all of the latest stuff. But would it add anything that only works on
> Windows XP?

Yes you can add every adm file in Windows 2000. But probably you won't see
all the policies.

> If this is a safe thing to do, then is it just a matter of overwriting
> my .ADM files with the XP files, and then rebooting?

You don't need to reboot. Just import the adm's in the gpeditor.

HTH
Norbert

Be aware however that not all policies in those adm files will
have effect on W2k. It all depends on whether the W2k watches
and respects the reg values the adm sets. Some settings added
in later OS revs target new features, new reg values.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've been looking at my Windows 2000 Pro local group policy, and
> comparing it with the Group Policy Reference spreadsheet available from
> microsoft.com. I've noticed some things that the spreadsheet says
> Windows 2000 should have are not available in the group policy editor.
> For example, there should be a policy called "Remove Set Program Access
> and Defaults from Start menu", but it's not in the group policy editor.
>
> I noticed that I can download the Windows XP .ADM files from
> microsoft.com, so I'm wondering if I can replace my Windows 2000 .ADM
> files with the XP files? That way my group policy editor would have
> all of the latest stuff. But would it add anything that only works on
> Windows XP?
>
> If this is a safe thing to do, then is it just a matter of overwriting
> my .ADM files with the XP files, and then rebooting?
>

yes, but beware that the GPO tools under 2000 will collapse on themselves.
The XP tool adds a considerable amount of information into the policies,
which cannot be displayed by the 2000 native tools. Install the 2003 SP1
support tools, and you should be fine.

- NuTs

"Norbert Fehlauer [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:u1uOC%(E-Mail Removed)...
> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Hi,
>
>> I noticed that I can download the Windows XP .ADM files from
>> microsoft.com, so I'm wondering if I can replace my Windows 2000 .ADM
>> files with the XP files? That way my group policy editor would have
>> all of the latest stuff. But would it add anything that only works on
>> Windows XP?
>
> Yes you can add every adm file in Windows 2000. But probably you won't see
> all the policies.
>
>> If this is a safe thing to do, then is it just a matter of overwriting
>> my .ADM files with the XP files, and then rebooting?
>
> You don't need to reboot. Just import the adm's in the gpeditor.
>
> HTH
> Norbert

Norbert Fehlauer [MVP] wrote:
> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Hi,
>
> > I noticed that I can download the Windows XP .ADM files from
> > microsoft.com, so I'm wondering if I can replace my Windows 2000 .ADM
> > files with the XP files? That way my group policy editor would have
> > all of the latest stuff. But would it add anything that only works on
> > Windows XP?
>
> Yes you can add every adm file in Windows 2000. But probably you won't see
> all the policies.

Does that mean all the policies I can see are ones that affect Windows
2000?


> > If this is a safe thing to do, then is it just a matter of overwriting
> > my .ADM files with the XP files, and then rebooting?
>
> You don't need to reboot. Just import the adm's in the gpeditor.

In the Add/Remove Templates dialog box, do I need to Remove the current
ADMs before Adding the new ADMs?

Thanks to everyone who has responded.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
Hi,

> Does that mean all the policies I can see are ones that affect Windows
> 2000?

No not necessarily.

Bye
Norbert
--
Dilbert's words of wisdom #19: Am I getting smart with you? How would
you know?