None taken...:-) I've built my share of MSI packs with good results. I've been using Installer2GO, it's doesn't have that much of a learning curve either. I'll probably just end up scripting this out to tattoo the registry and copy the files I need.
Thanks to everyone for all the input. One of these days someone will ask a question that I actually know the answer to so that I can contribute more than questions to this list :-) Thanks, Raymond McClinnis -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Kingslan Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 5:54 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] Setting Desktop Settings via Group Policy Yep - that, too, is a good solution. The only bad thing is that most folks don't have the skills (No offense, Raymond, as I don't know you....) to build MSI packs. Microsoft, nor most of the third party vendors have made this overly easy. That said, yes - the MSI pack and setting all of the keys, images, etc. the way that you want is a great solution. I've used this as well, and successfully. But, then - I have a guy on my team that does nothing but SMS and MOM. Fully half of his time is building MSI packs to push out whatever cruel and unusual punishment that we wish to deal on our unsuspecting user base... ;op Rick Kingslan MCSE, MCSA, MCT, CISSP Microsoft MVP: Windows Server / Directory Services Windows Server / Rights Management Windows Security (Affiliate) Associate Expert Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone WebLog - www.msmvps.com/willhack4food -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Roger Seielstad Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 7:13 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] Setting Desktop Settings via Group Policy I remember discussing an alternate option with some people at the Windows and Exchange Connections conference in Orlando last year. You could use something like WinInstall LE to build an MSI, which really just applies various registry settings and places files (like background images) in the correct places. Then simply assign it to the users. That should make it both self healing and significantly cleaner than ADM files or tattooing the registry. Roger -------------------------------------------------------------- Roger D. Seielstad - MTS MCSE MS-MVP Sr. Systems Administrator Inovis Inc. > -----Original Message----- > From: Rick Kingslan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 7:55 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] Setting Desktop Settings via Group Policy > > Sadly, Raymond - most things of that ilk (background, colors, icon > placement, etc.) are held in the profile of the user and are not > affected by current GP settings. However, that doesn't mean that you > CAN'T set them via GP, it does mean in most cases that you will be: > > 1. Writing custom .ADM files > 2. Tattooing the registry > > But it can be done. Me, I'd stick with a mandatory profile with > permissions set to 'Everyone' and let it apply, then let each user > 'own' > it (change it > back to a local or roaming) and then use GP to lock it down. > > Rick Kingslan MCSE, MCSA, MCT, CISSP > Microsoft MVP: > Windows Server / Directory Services > Windows Server / Rights Management > Windows Security (Affiliate) > Associate Expert > Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone > WebLog - www.msmvps.com/willhack4food > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Raymond > McClinnis > Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 6:47 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [ActiveDir] Setting Desktop Settings via Group Policy > > Hi all, > > I need to push out a standard desktop to all users in my company. I > found where to set up the Active Desktop and the like, but I can't > find where to set things like background color and pattern. I > remember in the good ol' > days (under NT4) you could set these things up (or at least I thought > I remembered). > > > Thanks in Advance, > Raymond McClinnis > > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm > List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm > List archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ > > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm > List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm > List archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/
