Folder Redirection

[hagridsbeard]

Ok, techies powers - INITITATE.

 

Just setting up a 2008 R2 Web Apps/RD machine for staff and students to use school resources. However, this is the first Windows 7 style machine I've ever had users log on to so I'm just getting used to the *.v2 profiles thing.

 

Now, my problem is I can't for the life of me find how to redirect desktop and start menu to a shared set (which was easy on the old profile/GPO type).

 

Need a simple how do as the internet (sorry for the blasphemy) is uselesss.

[Gatt]

On your DC:

 

Group Policy Manamgement Console

open your user polciy

 

User Config -> Windows Settings -> Folder Redirection -> Start Menu

 

eg for pupils here -> Right Click "Start Menu" -> Properties -> Basic - Redirect Everyone's folder to the same location

In Tasrget folder location -> Redirect to the following location

Root path = \\server\start_menu_share

 

In \\server\start_menu_share - create a folder called Programs and add in all your shortcuts inside that folder

 

Do a similar thing for the desktop

[featured_spectre]

desktop redirection is useless at the minute, as any file that gets dropped onto the desktop shares across everyone, so pr0n could be shared rapidly. Better to do a mandatory profile for them all

[hagridsbeard]

We do use madatory profiles, but I've never used Win 7 style. The folder redirection works (its the way we do it for XP userss), but seems to be ignored by Win 7.

[Gatt]

desktop redirection is useless at the minute, as any file that gets dropped onto the desktop shares across everyone, so pr0n could be shared rapidly. Better to do a mandatory profile for them all

 

We deny write access to the desktop share - and dont allow anything to be saved there - period!

[mrbios]

We do use madatory profiles, but I've never used Win 7 style. The folder redirection works (its the way we do it for XP userss), but seems to be ignored by Win 7.

 

Make your users owners (but not full rights, wouldnt want them saving stuff to the desktop!) of the two folders, make sure the policy: "allow user's folders from the start menu" is set to disabled (this completely stopped win7 start menu redirection if it was enabled)

 

these two fixed my issues with redirection after hours tearing my hair out with frustration

[hagridsbeard]

Nope, don't know what I'm missing here but it's just not working. I've got the user in a clean area with a new GPO. The only think in it is folder redirection.

 

All I get is a blank start menu/desktop.

 

Really driving me mad, surely this is basic stuff and there should be info on it everywhere.

[hagridsbeard]

"allow user's folders from the start menu" )

 

Where is this policy setting? I can find it anywhere.

[Gatt]

Also make sure you have your redirected Start menu folder structure is: \\Server\Share_name\Programs

 

BUT in Group Policy - only enter as far as \\Server\Share_Name

Edited February 5, 2010 by Gatt

[Gatt]

Make your users owners (but not full rights, wouldnt want them saving stuff to the desktop!) of the two folders, make sure the policy: "allow user's folders from the start menu" is set to disabled (this completely stopped win7 start menu redirection if it was enabled)

 

these two fixed my issues with redirection after hours tearing my hair out with frustration

 

It's actually - remove user's folders from the start menu - and it needs to be disabled...

 

Where is this policy setting? I can find it anywhere.

 

User Config -> Policies -> Admistrative Templates -> Start Menu And Taskbar -> remove User's folders from the start menu

Edited February 5, 2010 by Gatt

[hagridsbeard]

Thanks for all this, but it's still not working. Enabled all those setting and that Start Menu layout (although we have \\server\share$\students\start menu\)

 

Noticed this in the event log though:

 

The Group Policy Client Side Extension Folder Redirection was unable to apply one or more settings because the changes must be processed before system startup or user logon. The system will wait for Group Policy processing to finish completely before the next startup or logon for this user, and this may result in slow startup and boot performance.

[sidnuts]

Did you ever get a fix on this, I'm having the same issue with desktop redirection.

[Davit2005]

One thing to remember when doing folder redirection is to uncheck the Exclusive use check box on the options tab and Restore contents on removal.

 

I have a shared desktop and start menu for students and staff have their desktop redirected to their Home shares. The students desktop is a Read Only share so they cannot dump stuff on the desktop.

[sidnuts]

Thank you for the reply, got the 'exclusive use' already unchecked. All working great with XP, but not with Windows 7.

[Davit2005]

Thank you for the reply, got the 'exclusive use' already unchecked. All working great with XP, but not with Windows 7.

 

Do you have the redirection shares on a 2008 server, there is rumnor that 2008 can require FQDN of shares. I have all the shares on a 2003 server, all win7 clients and 2008R2 schema. I know some of the redirection policy settings have a check box to allow for XP clients.

 

I managed to get all domain clients upto Win7 over summer Hols so think have escaped any cross OS compatibilty issues.

[Michael]

I can concur, I've been having the same/similar problems with desktop redirection. Windows 7 SP1 and 2008 R2 SP1.

 

I've created a standard share and created sub-folders. Everyone has 'read' access rights with regards to permissions.

 

Curriculum > Desktop

Curriculum > Start Menu > Programs

 

The majority of the time, the redirection works, but it happened one afternoon that a whole bunch of laptops were not redirecting. I've only isolated the problem down to wireless laptops. It's never been a problem with wired desktops.

 

Wireless connectivity was fine however and I knew this as network drives and printers were mapping via GPO. Annoyingly the problem just cleared itself up and I haven't as yet got to the bottom of it.

[Michael]

Just to confirm I am using the following settings:

 

\\SERVERNAME\SHARE\Curriculum\Desktop

 

\\SERVERNAME\SHARE\Curriculum\Start Menu

 

I'm not using the FQDN, exclusive rights is disabled and as I say, normally it works fine.

 

It hasn't happened since, and the event logs reveal nothing interesting. It is a bit of mystery. It should either work or not work!

[Michael]

I've had some feedback and the problem appears to be isolated to certain models of netbook - Toshiba NB250's to be precise. Every other model of PC, netbook, laptop - wired or wireless are working correctly.

 

These are all taken from the same image, they're sysprepped and automatically join the domain with an answer file. Network drives and printers are mapped, just not the redirected desktop. Any ideas as I am on site tomorrow. Many thanks!

[Michael]

I've fixed the problem, have a look here for details

[User3204]

This drove me nuts last summer, when we tried to upgrade to Win 7

 

So I cheated somewhat.

 

In the GPO assigned to the computer I created a reg key in GP Preferences:

"Common Desktop" in "HKLM\Software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\user shell folders" to \\server\share\desktop

"Common Start Menu" in "HKLM\Software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\user shell folders" to \\server\share\startmenu

 

Then I also did in the GPO for the use:

"Desktop" in "HKCU\Software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\user shell folders" to "p:\profile\desktop"

"Start Menu" in "HKCU\Software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\user shell folders" to "p:\profile\startmenu"

 

What I didn't do was redirect the "Startup" at any point though, so this still runs from the local machine, so we can load stuff up if necessary.

 

 

This gives them the "public" desktop and start menu, which is the shared one I control.

They also get their own desktop, and get to dump stuff in it the usual way they do at home.