Desktop Shortcuts and Installing Programs

[Roy Avery]

I control the Group Policy on our W2K Server domain with my XP SP1 workstation. I can't seem to
find where I can force certain icons to be on the desktop. For instance, senior management wants
everybody's desktop to have shortcuts to Word, Excel, Legal Solutions Plus, BAJI, and Practice
Management. How can I do this without going to everybody's computer?

I also want to be able to install programs like Legal Solutions Plus on everybody's machine without
actually going to everybody's machine. In Group Policy there is Software Installation under both
Computer Configuration and User Configuration. Is Computer Configuration the best place to add a
new Package? How do I create a Windows Installer package (.msi file)? Can I customize the .msi
file so certain settings are already set?

Thank you very much.

Roy

 

[Brian Desmond [MVP]]

Hi Roy,

As far as the desktop icons, look up user profiles on support.microsoft.com.
In short, what you need to do, is create a base user profile, adn then copy
it into a folder called Default User in your NetLogon share.

As far as creating MSIs, you've got two options: There's a program called
Veritas WinInstall LE on your 2000 Server CD, or something like
Installshield AdminStudio. I, personally, use AdminStudio, but it's not
cheap.

If you want the software to be installed on all the computers the GPO
applies to, link the MSI to the Computer Config. To install it on a user by
user basis, link it to the user config.

--
--
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP
(e-mail address removed)12.il.us

Http://www.briandesmond.com

 

[Eric Voskuil]

Policy Maker includes a Group Policy extension for shortcut management.

Eric Voskuil
Policy Maker
http://www.autoprof.com/policy