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Im running windows server 2003 and Windows XP Pro clients. I have created a OU and created users in that OU. I have set a group policy on that OU.
On the OU I have a dedicated location for the desktop and wallpaper but on some users the desktop and wallper part of the policy is not being applied. But the strange thing is, is that the other half of the profile is being applied.
Can anyone help
Steve
I had this problem a lot, so switched to BGInfo
Just created a Batch file and ran it as aPupil Logon Script
How does this work then is this program just for desktop and wallpaper? Dont this program just defeat the object of having group policy ?
It sets the wallpaper to whatever background you choose in it plus some machine specific information as well if you want like hostname, IP, etc. This can be useful for troubleshooting.
If you are using roaming/mandatory profiles you need to convert pictures to a bmp, any other picture types are lost due to a long standing bug in xp.
Happened in 2000 too. Wallpaper is supposed to be easy, but the only thing that worked was a BMP wallpaper with many options turned off.
as a by product you've also solved a desktop problem for me as well. I was trying to use a gif but the icons and text were showing a blocky blue background. changing to bmp solved that. thanks.
How does BGinfo work if you want to specify a desktop, like a current we have folders that make up the desktop that come from the server, how would i impement that so the folders appear on the desktop using BGInfo?
From what I gather, you are talking about folder re-direction. Make sure that you have not ticked the box that says something along the lines of 'grant user exclusive access'.
The number of times that one has got me! ;)
Using a JPG has always worked fine for me, you need to make sure the 'Active Desktop Wallpaper' setting is enabled in User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop/Active Desktop
Also just out of interest, did everyone know that it doesn't matter what supported file type you use, Windows automatically converts it to a .bmp when using it as a wallpaper?
The file can be found in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft
As you can see from the path, its stored in the Local settings folder, one that is not written to roaming profiles. I save mine as bmp files on the netlogon directory for use with my mandatory profiles. I can say that if you don't use a bmp then the setting doesn't apply as it happens at home with roaming profiles too!
It works if you use IE to set the desktop as that writes it as a bmp anyway.
I use Mandatory Profiles, one for everyone but me, and all have a desktop set via GP that is a JPG.
I use a JPG set as a background saved in my home area but set using Display Properties.
I was confusing the two above sorry, was just adding at the bottom about how Windows handled the format issue, forgot to mention it wasn't when using a profile sorry lol.
Using the group policy works slightly differently as it just sets the path, I have had issues with the background then becoming set in the profile, so if you move the file in the policy the mandatory profile does not overwrite the background that was set at the time the profile was created.
simple!
Are we back into the mandatory profiles good\bad thing again?