All Users vs. Default User

[M and D]

If I understand correctly, the Default User holds the default settings that will apply to all user accounts, and All Users is the Start Menu, Desktop and Favorites that will appear for all users.

But wait - the Default User also has a Start Menu, Favorites and Desktop.

So what's the difference between the Start Menu, Favorites and Desktop in the Default User vs. All Users?

Steven

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Steven,

Most of the directory structure under All Users apply to all the user
accounts. The Default user is a template, which Windows uses when creating a
fresh user profile. IOW, every newly created user profile will have the
files and settings from the Default User template, as well as the files
under the All Users directory structure.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com


If I understand correctly, the Default User holds the default settings that
will apply to all user accounts, and All Users is the Start Menu, Desktop
and Favorites that will appear for all users.

But wait - the Default User also has a Start Menu, Favorites and Desktop.

So what's the difference between the Start Menu, Favorites and Desktop in
the Default User vs. All Users?

Steven

 

[M and D]

Hi Mr. Ramesh:

So if every newly created user profile will have the Start Menu, Favorites and Desktop from the Default User template, and the Start Menu, Favorites and Desktop under All Users applies to all the user accounts...what's the difference between the two sets of Start Menus, Favorites and Desktops? They both apply to all user accounts.

Do you see what I'm getting at? If I want every user to have the same Favorites (for examples), would I put those Favorites in the Default User or All Users?

Steven

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

They both apply to all user accounts

No. Anything withing the %userprofile% is per-user
%Allusersprofile (\all users) folder is per-machine

For instance, take the case of an installer package. If it places the icon
in %Allusersprofile%\Desktop, then the application shortcut is available for
all the users. If you select "Current user only" or similar option when
installing an application, the shortcuts are placed under
%userprofile%\Desktop location.

Whereas the shortcuts in the Default User template are moved to the current
user account only. Follow this article to learn how the Default User
template can be customized.

How to create a custom default user profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319974

If your question is "why there is an "All users" folder, when the "Default
User" folder exists?", then think of this:

"Why there is an "All users" folder when the "current user" folder exists?"

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Mr. Ramesh:

So if every newly created user profile will have the Start Menu, Favorites
and Desktop from the Default User template, and the Start Menu, Favorites
and Desktop under All Users applies to all the user accounts...what's the
difference between the two sets of Start Menus, Favorites and Desktops? They
both apply to all user accounts.

Do you see what I'm getting at? If I want every user to have the same
Favorites (for examples), would I put those Favorites in the Default User or
All Users?

Steven

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

If I want every user to have the same Favorites (for examples), would I
Anything in the "Default User" profile will not be used by "existing" user
accounts. It's used when you create a new user account, and login for the
"first" time.

Secondly, though the files in the "All Users" profile should be available to
all the user accounts, Favorites won't work that way in Windows XP. This is
because Internet Explorer does not read the All Users\Favorites location at
all.

So, to establish a common Favorites folder, modifying the User Shell Folders
registry path is needed (in every user profile).

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com