My Computer and My Documents desktop icons disappearing

[jgcracknell]

Hi

Just got rid of Winsuite aka Winsick! Sorted out Folder Redirection which works fine, but the My Docs and My Computer icons will not appear. The other icons e.g. Recycle Bin are set not to appear and I've told the Group Policy not to delete/hide all the icons but just certain ones.

Any ideas?

[Michael]

It sounds to me you've enabled certain policies you shouldn't have! Set the policies as follows:

User Config > Admin Templates > Desktop

Hide and disable all items on the desktop - Not Configured or Disabled
Remove My Documents icon on the desktop - Disabled
Remove My Computer icon on the desktop - Disabled

User Config > Admin Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

Remove common program groups from Start Menu - Enabled

The last policy is particularly important and will remove all shortcuts on the Desktop and Start Menu inherited from the "All Users" profile, and only display icons you specify in your Folder Redirection location. Hope this helps.

[jgcracknell]

Hi Michael

The policies are set exactly as you've mentioned.

H&D all items on desktop - Disabled
Remove My Docs/My Comp - Disabled

and Common program groups on start bar enabled.

[MatthewL]

Is this of any use?

[jgcracknell]

@MatthewL:

Thanks

We use regpol and I'll give it a shot tomorrow at work - just my luck I logged in this afternoon and shut down all the PCs that were left on so I can't test from home!

J.

[Michael]

Other than computer and/or user objects being in the wrong place within AD (so the policy doesn't get applied), I can't see what the problem could be.

Generally as a recommendation, create an OU called 'Curriculum', then sub OUs named Computers and another called Pupils (for example). Create and apply a GPO to Curriculum, so everything beneath it inherits permissions.

If this is all correct, then i'd recommend you install GPMC (presuming you're running Server 2003). You can see what policies are being applied on a single page.

[jgcracknell]

Hi

I've used the Group Policy Modelling Wizard and Results and get that the policy is applied correctly. If I log on locally I can see My Computer and My Docs, so it is not a local setting. The only change I've made to the desktop locally is to remove the FrontMotion Firefox icon using the registry - but My Docs and My Computer still remain!

J.

[Michael]

Logging on locally isn't going to solve your problem. Have you tried logging on as a domain administrator and running gpupdate /force from the Run menu (on a workstation)? You should see a command prompt asking you to restart if new settings have been applied.

Do you have more than one domain controller in your domain? Sometimes replication can be delayed or fail if there's a problem with DNS.

[jgcracknell]

Hi

I have 1*Win03 server and 1*Win08 server - the Win03 is currently the DC. Don't ask! I use bginfo to let me know what is going on with respect to this. I have forced an update both on the server and the local machine. There are no local profiles on the C drive which could be causing an issue and I've reset the profile on the server too.

J.

[Michael]

Is 2003 the DC and 2008 just a member server or a DC also? If it is a DC, I'd recommend you check the event logs under 'File Replication' to see if the servers are talking correctly. You can also attempt to force replication under Sites and Services, then check the event logs.

The reason this is all important is because it can create problems like you're describing. The workstation may be 'looking' to the other server where you haven't applied any policies, or because replication is failing to replicate the policies you've set.

[jgcracknell]

Hi

2008 is just a member server. It will be promoted later this week I hope! Fingers crossed to see if mixed-mode will work!

J.

[Michael]

I would recommend you get this problem sorted first before potentially creating another

[MatthewL]

@MatthewL:

Thanks

We use regpol and I'll give it a shot tomorrow at work - just my luck I logged in this afternoon and shut down all the PCs that were left on so I can't test from home!

J.

I use this on our ghost image but obviously it could be used via a script, I do change it from current user to local machine so it applys it to all users on that machine.