Group Policy - Set User Desktops and Start Menu's

[Iain.Faulkner]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone has done this before.

We've just done a complete rebuild of our network over the school holidays, moving to Server 2008 and Vista (I know, I know!). One of the things I'd like to be able to do is set a standard desktop and start menu for our staff and students using group policy.

Is this actually possible? Having spent some time on google, it's not looking promising, but I'm hoping someone has done it before. If it's not possible to do this, what would be the best way to setup users' destkops and start menus?

Any advice anyone can give will be gratefully received.

Cheers

Iain

[Domino]

It certainly is.

You want to be looking for desktop and start menu redirection - have a look
How To Configure Folder Redirection
Using Folder Redirection - O'Reilly Media
Apply Folder Redirection in Windows with Group Policy Objects

Don't be too concerned about it being mostly 2003 based in those guides, it works in essentially the same way

[p858snake]

You need to redirect the folders to a shared location on the server (or desktop and use a script to keep it up to date).

[Psymon]

If you are using Vista use Group Policy Cliuent Side Extensions and deploy the shortcuts to the start menu on a per-machine basis.

You can also delete the useless shortcuts like Windows Mail, Meeting Space etc....

edit : We use redirected desktops, so they are quota'd for in the users storage space, and deploy a background with group policy. The start menu is then built on a machine policy to add shortcuts to network academic software. The "All Users" start menu takes care of the locally installed apps.

[Iain.Faulkner]

Thanks for all your replies to this.

Tried the three links in the first reply, followed the instructions and still no desktop :-(

[Domino]

What do you mean no desktop?

Are there any event log errors?

[Iain.Faulkner]

apologies, let me explain how i'm trying to set this up.

I've created a share \\servername\teacherdesktop

and redirected users desktops folder to this location.

Within the share I've set up a structure of folders and software shortcuts that I'd like to appear on the desktop.

User logs on, and rather than get the desktop I'm trying to give them, they get the standard windows desktop with a couple of icons on.

Have checked eventvwr, no errors. Checked RSOP.msc to see what policies are running and the only error is on this policy in that it can't write to the share. But why would it need to write to the share?

[Domino]

Are you using roaming profiles?

If not you may have to delete the local profile of the user you're logging on as

[Iain.Faulkner]

we are using roaming profiles for staff.

Not tested anything for students yet, who will have mandatory profiles.

[marvin]

You might have checked this but do teacher user groups have access to the shared folder? Im thinking it might be a security issue!

[Iain.Faulkner]

Hi Marvin,

I did exactly the same thing at first, I've checked user permissions and all staff have read access to the share and the folder.

[timzim]

In the GPO, under User Config / Windows settings / Folder Redirection / Desktop (or Start menu) / Settings - make sure you've unchecked the boxes for "Grant user exclusive rights" and "Move contents...".

Your users won't need write access to the folders, only read/execute/list.

[Iain.Faulkner]

Thanks TimZim, you've made my night as that's finally solved it!!

If you were closer I'd buy you a pint :-)

Cheers to everyone though who responded