Restrict XP user to change backgrouns and screensaver

This page describes how to do it for screensavers:

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1190/
Restrict the Screensaver

or you could do it this way:

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/170/
Hide the Screen Saver Settings Page

and how to do what was done for screensavers in the above link can also be done for the display background tab:

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/169/
Hide the Display Background Page

great, now can I do it for all users at once using Active Directory?

I'm afraid I know nothing about Active Directory.  But you can construct a REG command that executes as a batch file script for each user in your domain.  The REG command is described here:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/reg.mspx?mfr=true

what about the screensaver??????????????'

is there anyway to make excemptions let's say the owners of the company using the procedure you just gave me?

Sorry, I'm an idiot. Shold probably look at the question better!
The screensaver is also in: User configuration / Administrative templates / Control Panel / Display

You can definately choose which users you do not want to apply these group policies to.
1. When you go to add the Default Domain Policy, select it, but instead of clicking on OK, right click on Default domain Policy, and click properties.
2. Click the Security tab. If the group or user who you do not want policies to apply does not appear in the list, add them yourself.
3.      Click the group or user you want to exclude from the group policy.
4.      In the Permissions windows, click to select the Deny check box for the Apply Group Policy permission.

This should do the job.

Thanks a lot buddy your solution is perfect and it rocks !!!!
have a nice one

My pleasure. I started playing around with GP a little while ago. It's so easy to implement domain-wide restrictions and policies, there are even add-ins for Office and other applications.

Thanks for the points and have a good one!

where do you download them from?

It depends what software you want a GP template for. For example Office 2003 GP template is included in the Office 2003 resource Kit, found here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-ca/assistance/ha011513601033.aspx.

For other software, you will probably find the GP template on their site. For example Google Desktop Enterprise Edition GP template is here: http://desktop.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=20043&topic=950

Thanks

Luke:

Man how can I assign a web page (start page) to all my users. I want my intranet to be opened as a start page?

Thanks

Sorry for the delay, same place.

In User configuration / Windows Components / Internet Explorer you can stop users from changing their home page.

To set the default home page (and other URL's) go to User configuration / Internet Explorer Maintenance / URLs / and click on Important URLs.

That one took me a long time to find, too. I don't know who set up the structure of the GP editor, but some thigs are reaaly hard to find! I still get confused over what policies are covered under Computer configuration and what is covered under user configuration...

thanks again buddy

pleasure