Question

Local Machine not applying Active Directory Group Policy

Asked by: moof_man

I have set up an OU to standerdise the screen saver on all machines (simple eh!?)

Problem: The GP works on some machines (Any user) but not others (Any user). i.e. any user can log onto PC1 and it works, but if any of those users log onto PC2 it doesn't work.

I have checked the following:

- User and their computer in Active directory has only this policy
- The policy has "no Override Selected"
- The policy properties, security has the user and machine listed with  "Apply Group policy ticked"
- Userenv has been run in Verbose mode on both machines (GP working and not) and both match, some differences but nothing important
- Userenv shows that the GPO GUID is the same on both machines, although they come from diffent DC's (so it's the correct GPO being run, and the DC's are replicating correctly)
- GPresults on both machines are almost the same,  some differences but nothing important.

I've now run out of Microsoft documentation to look at.... please help.

Regards

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Asked On
2004-03-05 at 03:36:05ID20908126
Topic

Windows 2000 Operating System

Participating Experts
3
Points
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: 4auHukPosted on 2004-03-05 at 04:21:48ID: 10521832

moof_man,
What is service pack level on your workstations?

Read this MSKB article (if you didn't already)

Screen Saver Policy May Not Be Applied:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;257939

If it does not help you can use logon script to apply registry settings related to screen saver directly.


Best,
4auHuk

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2004-03-05 at 05:06:42ID: 10522075

You may also want to run RSOP and compare the results...  (Resultant Set of Policy)

 

by: moof_manPosted on 2004-03-05 at 05:08:57ID: 10522095

Thankyou I had not checked that but, unfortunatly ALL pc's in the company are at SP4 and I checked PC1 & 2 and both have the registry key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop where it should be.

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2004-03-05 at 05:23:42ID: 10522223

Stupid question, but I assume you have made sure that the screensavers have been installed on all the machines...??

 

by: moof_manPosted on 2004-03-05 at 05:28:43ID: 10522263

The Screen saver is pulled off a server using sn Unc path, and this works on 50% of the machines.

 

by: moof_manPosted on 2004-03-05 at 05:29:58ID: 10522270

and the unc path is availble to ALL machines

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2004-03-05 at 05:42:35ID: 10522392

Thanks...  just had to make sure...

 

by: 4auHukPosted on 2004-03-05 at 05:46:26ID: 10522430

>both have the registry key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Do they both have it under this key also?
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

 

by: moof_manPosted on 2004-03-05 at 05:58:41ID: 10522539

no both have HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop  only

 

by: moof_manPosted on 2004-03-05 at 06:03:33ID: 10522578

Tried GPinventory or RSOP to compare the results from pc1 & 2 (Resultant Set of Policy) but if fails to connect to either machine.  DoH !

 

by: 4auHukPosted on 2004-03-05 at 06:27:32ID: 10522854

>no both have HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop  only

Ok, but according to abovementioned article and to Windows 2000 ResKit docs screen saver policies apply to HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop registry key.

 

by: moof_manPosted on 2004-03-05 at 06:42:07ID: 10523005

No the article states

CAUSE
The problem occurs because this policy is now applied in the registry to the following key:  WRONG
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

Instead of directly to the following key:  CORRECT
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

and the machine that works has exactly the same (the CORRECT one)

 

by: 4auHukPosted on 2004-03-05 at 06:51:55ID: 10523116

:) No, it's vice versa.

Read this whole sentence more carefully:
---
The problem occurs because this policy is now applied in the registry to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop

Instead of directly to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

But the user code component (Win32k.sys) was not modified to check the policy key location when reading the screen saver information.
---

I.e. problem occurs because policy key has ben changed to comply common policy location in registry but unpatched win32k.sys still checked old path.
And as i said Resource Kit documentation says the same.

Regards,
4auHuk

 

by: 4auHukPosted on 2004-03-05 at 07:00:23ID: 10523206

And this may be actually your case. It may be that you created policy using old System.adm template.
---
Also, the original Group Policy snap-in System Administration template (System.adm) sets the ScreenSaveActive and ScreenSaverIsSecure values using REG_DWORD values instead of REG_SZ values, therefore the user mode component (Win32k.sys) does not apply the screen saver policy unless the policy is created by using the new updated System.adm administration template.
---

 

by: moof_manPosted on 2004-03-05 at 07:01:31ID: 10523220

I see how it can be read that way, however the machine that works only has HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
 and doesn't have HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop.

Although I have now found the ANSWER!!! or at least a work around!!!!

Basically the machine that doesn't work, get it to join a workgroup instead of the domain and then re-join the domain again.. hey presto !!! the policy is applied.



 

by: 4auHukPosted on 2004-03-05 at 07:05:18ID: 10523258

Well, it was surely GP apply problem. Great that you've found a workaround.

Just in case, check registry keys on now working pc. Wich of these two paths apply?

 

by: 4auHukPosted on 2004-03-05 at 07:10:12ID: 10523303

The point is that HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop controls desktop settings and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop saves policy settings. Win32k.sys should check both keys.

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2004-03-05 at 09:50:08ID: 10524998

Amazing how just rejoining the Domain again works for so many issues...!!!  Many years ago, when I was just a project manager and did not know beans about how computers work, I used to go to our IT admin and complain that such and such was broken on my computer..  He would say "reboot" ...  And sure enough, that was all it took...    Rejoining the domain and the appliction of computer policy is the same way...  Should have suggested it earlier, eh..??

Glad you got the workaround and it is fixed..!!

FE

 

by: moof_manPosted on 2004-03-05 at 12:58:50ID: 10526774

NOT FIXED !!!!!

I tried the re-joining the domain fix, it worked for about 4 machines then stopped, then I re-booted the machines it worked on and they all stopped also.

So the the problem is even stranger!!!

HELPPPPPppppp...... (screaming louding into a large valley)

 

by: TaikatPosted on 2004-03-05 at 21:04:55ID: 10529561

You could try going to a command prompt and typing
gpudate /force

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2004-03-06 at 05:24:34ID: 10530719

Do you have any machines running W XP or W2K3..??  If so, download the new GPMC from MS..  It will help you with those GPO's...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/gpmc/default.mspx

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2004-03-10 at 08:36:43ID: 10562212

Thanks...

FE

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