Samba 3 and Windows Vista Clients
- Overview of Windows Vista's Changes
- Working with User Profiles & Folder Redirection
- Working Around the Lack of System Policies
- Making Vista not Suck (as a Workstation)
- Windows Vista's Annoyances
- Improving Vista's Performance
- Dealing with Windows Vista Components
- Windows Vista as a (somewhat) Decent Workstation
- Various Windows Vista User Restrictions
- An Example Samba-Vista Deployment
Configuring Vista as a Decent Workstation
The following sections will show you how you can bypass or change various features within Windows Vista by applying policies or writing certain registry keys. These settings are listed as:
Group Policy - Location within the Local Group Policy Editor where you will find the appropriate Setting. I include both the User and Computer Policies when available.
Computer Registry Key - This is the HKLM registry value that will set the specified policy/preference. This will apply the policy/preference to all the Users logging into the workstation.
User Registry Key - This is the HKCU registry value that will set the specified Policy/Preference. This will only be set for the current User, making this key pretty much worthless. These are only listed if I could not find an appropriate HKLM key.
Non-Admin User Editable Registry Key - This registry key can be written by any user regardless if they are an Administrator or not. These preferences are best used within a Logon Script of some kind.
Classic Start Menu
Local Group Policy (User Policy Only) User - Start Menu & Taskbar - Force classic Start Menu Local Computer RegKey HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer - NoSimpleStartMenu - 1 (REG_SZ)
Force Classic Control Panel
Local Group Policy (User Policy Only) User - Control Panel - Force Classic Control Panel View Local Computer RegKey HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer - ForceClassicControlPanel - 1 (DWORD)
Turn Off User Tracking - Note that this setting should only be used when using the Classic Start Menu.
Local Group Policy User - Start Menu & Taskbar - Turn off user tracking Local Computer RegKey HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer - NoInstrumentation - 1 (DWORD)
Turn Off Personalized Menus
Local Group Policy User - Start Menu & Taskbar - Turn off personalized menus Non-Admin User Editable Key Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced - IntelliMenus - No (REG_SZ)
Disable New Programs Highlighting
Non-Admin User Editable Key Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced - Start_NotifyNewApps - 0 (REG_SZ)
Disable Start Menu Drag and Drop
Local Group Policy User - Start Menu & Taskbar - Remove Drag-and-drop Context Menus on the Start Menu Local Computer RegKey HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer - NoChangeStartMenu - 1 (DWORD)
Force Specific Desktop Wallpaper - Use Group policies (need more testing)
Local Group Policy User Configuration - Admin Templates - Desktop - Desktop - Desktop Wallpaper User Registry Key Control Panel\Desktop - Wallpaper - None (REG_SZ) Local Machine RegKey HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System - Wallpaper - None (REG_SZ)
Prevent Changing the Wallpaper
Local Group Policy User Conf - Admin Templates - Control Panel - Display - Prevent Changing Wallpaper Local Machine RegKey HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop - NoChangingWallPaper - 1 (REG_SZ)
Remove Documents Submenu from Start Menu
Local Group Policy User - Start Menu & Taskbar - Remove Recent Items Menu from Start Menu Local Computer RegKey HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer - NoRecentDocsMenu - 1 (DWORD)
Disable QuickLaunch (& other Toolbars) on the Taskbar
Local Group Policy User - Start Menu & Taskbar - Show QuickLaunch on Taskbar Local Computer RegKey HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer - NoToolbarsonTaskbar - 1
Windows Explorer Policies & Preferences
Display the menu bar
Local Group Policy Comp Conf - Admin Templ - Windows Components - Windows Explorer - Display the menu bar in Windows Explorer Local Computer RegKey HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer - AlwaysShowClassicMenu - 1 (DWORD)
Use the Classic Shell - this will unfortunately set Explorer to open everything within a new Window. I have yet to figure out how to work around this, so this setting is not recommended.
Local Group Policy Comp Conf - Admin Templ - Windows Components - Windows Explorer - Turn on Classic Shell Local Computer RegKey HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer - ClassicShell - 1 (DWORD)
