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Configure Outlook 2003 using Outlk.adm and prf file.

Im trying to autoconfigure all my users outlook profiles upon logging onto any of my domain desktop pcs. Currently, they all have the profiles configured manually but if they sit at another desk, the outlook profile needs to be setup again. Ive downloaded and imported the outlk.adm and config'd the outlook.prf file and copied upto the sysvol\domain\scripts folder on the server which Im controlling the GP from. Im now struggling to find where I activate the policy. Ive gone through all the differents folders and items which appear under User Configuration|Administrative Templates|Microsoft Outlook 2003 but I cant find where I point the specific policy to the prf file.

PBAMark

On the link below there is a section called "Applying Outlook user profiles by using a PRF file" which shows how to apply the PRF file to a users computer.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011402581033.aspx

I believe PRF files are mainly for customising an Office install point, if you want to customise already deployed clients, tweaking the settings using the outlook ADM file in GPO is the way forward

daiwhyte

ASKER

PBAMark,

Thanks for your response but its not quite what Im looking for. From what Im reading on the web, I just need to deploy the prf file via the GP so each time a user fires up Outlook, the prf file is run and the user is setup without any engineers touching the user machine. Ive read the article you posted above but it looks like Ive got to visit each machine to configure the way outlook starts which is a non starter.

PBAMark

I've had another read around the topic and I would probably deploy the registry settings in the link i previously posted, through the logon script.

However if this is not an acceptable solution I found this link http://www.gpanswers.com/faq/?id=17 that details how to deploy a default outlook profile through a custom ADM. Note however, that you will still need a logon script or something that removes if present HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Setup\First-Run

daiwhyte

ASKER

PBAMark, both solutions require a logon script of some sort but Im not using a logon script at present. Is it possible without the logon script?

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PBAMark

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