2003 Server GPO follow-up

"I downloaded the GPMC to view my GPO effect's..all shows correct.  However, the GPO's are not working. "  Could you provide some details as what you are trying to implement in your GPO?  From reading your post, it would appear that the GPO is being seen and applied to the client; however, the desired effect is not being physically seen.  What does your GPO do?

At this point all I am trying to do is remove the Search from the client desktop.  I created the GPO under the object editor and enabled the remove search.

OK to do this...

Open the GPO...

Under USER CONFIGURATION --> Adminstrative Templates --> Start Menu and Taskbar --> "Remove Search menu from start menu"  <-- set this to ENABLED.

Login as the client....  you may need to run GPRESULTS /FORCE   Then relogin to the client...


Check your settings...

Did it , no change...I have to be missing something higher up,..btw the return i got was "the policy object does not exist"

What OS are you client machines?  Does this policy work on the Server itself?  Meaning can you remove the search when you apply the GPO to the server's OU?  

Client is XP Pro.  Yes, the policy works when I apply it to the DC.  I am applying the GPO at the Domain Controller level.

Link the policy to the Domain... and see what happens (note create a new policy or link the current policy... don't modify the default domain policy)

Did it, No change.  It is not seeing the policy.  I started from scratch and created a new policy and linked it to the Domain, added the "Users" group along with the already "Authenticated Users".  

Wierd...because it works on the server...but not the client XP pro machines, I would think that you have the policy settings properly configured...

I wonder... do you clients use the CLASSIC MENU or the XP START MENU?  And I wonder if this makes a difference for the setting you are trying to set in your GPO.

Go to a client and right click the START button and choose PROPERTIES from the drop down box...  On the Start Tab...what menu option is selected?

The start menu was selected, I changed it to classic and no change.  I am running Xp Sp2, I wonder if that has anything to do with it?

Not sure...I have XP SP1 so, I can't test...  But there is an admin template plug in...that addresses some new functionaility in GPO for XP SP2:  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2brows.mspx

Ok, I setup an Xp SP1 box and logged into the domain.  The GPO didn't touch it either.  Strange thing though, some other GPO is taking affect as my background and control panel setting changed, and I have no admin rights.  I checked the Default Domain and Default DC Policy and nothing is setup to that regard.

Download the Group Policy Management tool to further investigate your GPO's effect on the machine:  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0a6d4c24-8cbd-4b35-9272-dd3cbfc81887&displaylang=en

Oh sorry, I see that you already have this...  This tool should show you precisely where the desktop settings are coming from...

Yeah, I ran this..A Great tool..It doesn't show any GPO's that affect the dektop background. What about DNS.. It seems that DNS has alot to do with AD.

How about DHCP...My router is currently the DHCP device, Does the DC need to be the DHCP Server?