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greying out default home page settings and adding our intranet page

OK I would like to change everybodys default home page setting to our intranet page. Most of the users on the domain are restrcited users, some power users. We have a registry hack file that will grey out the default home page box.. I would like that to be done on all computers in the office. Is there a way to run this using the login script. Is there a way to code the actual url address into the registry hack? Can we even do this using the login script since most users will not have rights to edit their registry due to their resticted user setting... What would be the best way to go about this.. I do not want to sit down at every computer and change their home page to our intranet page and then run the registry hack file.. Please tell me there is a much easier way.. Thanks in advance!!

this is the registry hack file we created...

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel]
"HomePage"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel]
"HomePage"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000

Netman66

You can use Group Policy to set the home page. Once set by a GPO it is greyed out so users cannot change it.

Let me know if you want the Group Policy element.

PaigePeople

ASKER

how do i do this?? If i can get all users set to our intranet page and its unchangelable, then it Sounds like the quickest way... got a walkthrough?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Netman66

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Netman66

Ahh....found it.

User Configuration>Windows Settings>Internet Explorer Maintenance>URLs>Important URLs: Check the Customize Homepage URL and enter it.

You're done....!

PaigePeople

ASKER

"1) Connect to your 2000 server from an XP PC with the Administrative Tools>Active Directory Users and Computers. You could use the Group Policy Management Console but you need to download and install it (and it takes a bit of getting used to). ...so down and dirty it is!"

Not understanding step 1... On the xp machine there is no Active Directory Users and Computers option.. I am thinking that oprion is on the server.. If i walk to the computer running win 2000 server.. My computer (client computer) has XP installed on it.. Can I download something so I can change the settings right from my client computer with xp??

Netman66

Sure can.

Here is the Adminpak for XP:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c16ae515-c8f4-47ef-a1e4-a8dcbacff8e3&DisplayLang=en

It says for 2003 server - but it will manage a 2000 server also.

Download and install it on your XP workstation. Log in with Domain Admin account to manage your server.

PaigePeople

ASKER

Hey, that works very well, however, my boss will not let me mess around with group policy.. He would rather me waste a day walking to every persons computer and setting the homer page and then running the reg edit file he created.. It's quite ridiculous.. He obviously doesnt want to unleash the power of windows server OS. I am not happy.. So maybe i willl just take about 2 weeks to do what he wants me to do, just to prove a point.. Group policy option is there to minimize work. Obviosuly he does not understand this... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH i feel like screaming!!!! Thanks again for your time...

Netman66

Explain this to him:

Group Policy will save the company thousands of dollars in labour every year just by removing most of the "sneakernet" work. This will allow you more time to tune the infrastructure to maximize efficiency and thereby, profit.

If he doesn't understand ease of use, I bet he understands money saved....!

Glad to help.
NM