Setting policy for the desktop settings on startup

[sazebac]

We are running 2003 Server Enterprise Edition and have a policy set up so that each user has a standard desktop that loads each time they log onto the server. The desktop has a jpg image, and black background.
This desktop loads fine each time for each user, no matter what changes a user makes to the desktop settings. However, a user is able to log on and go into control panel and change the desktop color(i.e. control panel, display, desktop, color, and pick a new color; when they pick a new color the background color for the text of the icon changes). They can log off and log back on and the changes they made to the desktop color will be intact. We do not want this to be able to happen.
We could configure each user's desktop and then take away their rights to make any changes to the desktop, but we want it so that we don't have to hand configure all future users.
Like I said, the jpg image and the color of the background loads fine for each user the way it is supposed to. We have that configured ok in active directory group policy. Basically, we don't know where to go to set the policy so that the color behind the text in the icons (backround color) remains the same enterprise wide. Is there a place to change this or does it have to be set up in a startup scipt? If a script is the only way, does anyone know where to get this kind of script? I was browsing on Microsoft's tech scripts page but did not come across a script specifically for this. Thanks.

 

[bofhrevenge2]

I beleive the " Hide appearence and theams tab" should do it.

Located at User Configuration - Admin Templates - Control Panel - Display -

Give it a try.

 

[sazebac]

That would help to disable it, but we want to set the background color outright, enterprise wide.

 

[sazebac]

I'm thinking it will have to be a script put in the policy that alters registry for icon background color. Problem is, I don't know which value that is in the registry or exactly where to find it. I was looking in the registry under control panel and colors but none of those values seem to be the one to change the backround color of icon text...

 

[meastaugh1]

I think this might be what you looking for (to do via GP):

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...003/all/deployguide/en-us/sdcce_term_lgvk.asp

 

[sazebac]

I should make a correction. I want to set group policy for the background color (in the registry the value is called "background")not the background color of the icon text.

 

[bofhrevenge2]

sazebac,

This desktop loads fine each time for each user, no matter what changes a user makes to the desktop settings. However, a user is able to log on and go into control panel and change the desktop color(i.e. control panel, display, desktop, color, and pick a new color

Surely hiding the appearence and theams tab or the desktop tab will prevent them from changing the background.

Am i on the right track here, you mean the actual desktop background?

Another way might be to inport a regedit at logon via script.

 

[bofhrevenge2]

If i am on the right track (probably not) then this is the registry area to look at.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors]
"Background"="0 0 255

 

[sazebac]

Thanks for the suggestions. It prob will have to be a script that edits the reg. I was just hoping there was a setting in Group Policy on Server 2003 to set the backround color.

 

[bofhrevenge2]

It's strange that there isn't as i'm sure there was an option for this in the NT4 system policy editor, it could probably be done with a custom ADM but they are very tricky to mess with.

You can import a regedit using the /s switch.

REGEDIT /S filename.REG