While working on the mandatory profiles for a new Windows 8.1 lab, I built the profile on a virtual machine with a different resolution than the physical machine. This resulted in the icons being reset to the default (all along the left side) when the profile loaded on the physical labs with their native resolution. With icon position being a per-user setting, I knew I could … [Read more...]
Mandatory Profiles with Windows 8.1 Update
I've used Mandatory Profiles for controlling a lab environment running Windows XP and Windows 7. Trying to do the same thing in Windows 8.1, did not work quite so straightforward, so I figured I would document the process. The step-by-step is at the end of this article. Mandatory profiles (and super mandatory profiles) are pre-configured roaming user profiles where changes are … [Read more...]
MS14-025 changes Group Policies Preferences
An update released with this month's Patch Tuesday updated the behavior of Group Policy Preferences. The change is a security fix in nature but mostly keeps people from setting themselves up for failure. The problem that the update addresses comes from different Group Policy Preferences that allow you to store credentials. GPPs could be used to create or modify local user … [Read more...]
A script to clear cached Group Policies
I ran in to an instance last week where Group Policy was coming into question - specifically, why a computer wasn't receiving new or updated policies. The problem ended up being related to Deep Freeze not thawing correctly and stuck group policies being the symptom, not the problem. Despite the innocence of the GPO, I cobbled together a quick script to purge all of the … [Read more...]
Utilizing Internet Explorer 11 Enterprise Mode
New installation media for Windows 8.1 Update and Server 2012 R2 Update comes out in the Volume License Servicing Center today. We looked at the new administrative templates for group policy that accompany this Update. One of the key features in the update is Internet Explorer 11 Enterprise Mode, an enhanced compatibility mode that brings back some capabilities from IE's older … [Read more...]