GPO setting that should be there is not there. How do I fix this?

For me it's there but further down below (2008 R2). 6th entry from the bottom.

Unfortunately it's not there for me at all. I have looked at each entry in that area and have even resorted by the name column. It is not there at all.

If anyone can tell me how to put it back I would be a very happy IT Pro :-)

It says it requires IE8. Maybe it is not available when you run GPMC from a machine that only has IE 7. Unlikely but not impossible.

Hi dphantum9002 - can you please tell me how to reload just that admx file?

We have no machines in this domain running IE 7. They are all at least IE8. Thanks.

Do you have a filter applied onthe settings?

yes, check to see if a filter has been applied.

No filters that I can see.

Also, just to let you know, I am not running gpmc from a client machine. I am running the gpmc directly on the domain controller so that I can edit the policies directly for the entire domain.

Thanks.

I reloaded all the admx and the adml files from the link provided by dphantom9002 and the setting has not reappeared.

Any other ideas?

only a filter I can think of as well.  If you right click on administrative Templates, is there a checkmark besides "Filter On"?

I just looked. No checkmark by Filter On.

So - what would happen if I removed the PolicyDefinitions folder from the policy folder?

I just want to see if the setting reappears when the domain isn't getting settings from the policy store but I want to be sure I can remove it and put it back without severe ramifications. I mean - this is a production domain so if I hose it up .......... well lets just say I don't want to hose it up and not be able to repair it.

And since I don't know if this is an acceptable idea I thought I would ask?

I would not do that.  Are you using a Central Store?

Well, I have a policydefinitions folder that is housing the admx files under C:\Windows\SYSVOL\domain\Policies and an en-us folder that is housing the adml files under C:\Windows\SYSVOL\domain\Policies\policydefinitions.

So if I am correct, I believe that is the Central Store - or am I mistaken?

I know when I go to the gpmc and click on a gpo and choose the settings tab, under Administrative Templates I often see "Policy definitions (ADMX files) retrieved from the central store."

yes you have a central store.  Then make sure the inetres.admx file is in the central store or copy the new one you just downloaded to the central store.  Make a backup of the existing central store admx file first in case you needto put it back.  Give your DCs a few minutes to replicate and then open your GPMC again and see if the setting is there.

Thanks dphantom9002. I already did that. It was already in there, I just replaced it with the new one I downloaded today. Unfortunately, no fix.

In fact I just checked again (like you said - give the DCs a few minutes). Still not there.

We are not using R2 we are using Windows 2008 SP2.

I only work with GPOs from the domain controllers. I have no reason to do this sort of work from any client machines. So yes, I am sure I saw and was previously using the setting on the DCs and now I cannot see the setting at all let alone use it.

Thanks.

can you post a screen shot of the area where this setting should be please?  You can create a new GPO with no settings as that will show the area in question.  If the setting is not in one GPO then it should not be in any otehr GPO either including a newly created GPO.

That is, unless the GPO you are working with is itself corrupt in which case you will need to recreate it.

Well it wasn't showing anywhere in any GPO but previously it had been there because we were using it.

Anyway, I finally have it showing. I'm not sure what happened but I decided to start over with the admx files so I re-downloaded and re-loaded them (again). Now the setting is showing so I set up the pages and I have a different problem. When I update the group policy on a client machine then open IE it only displays the first default home page. But if I click on "home" the other two default pages load so I need to figure out how to fix this.

So - not sure how to award points here so I'm thinking I will split them evenly between dphantom9002 and The_Kirschi. Regardless, I thank you both for your suggestions and help as you really helped me get my thought process in line with your advice.

Thanks!

You guys are awesome and really helped me think this out. Not only that but you were right on the money with the admx file issue and didn't sent me on a wild goose chase. I am very happy with the expert help I received. Thank you.