XP Desktop Power Mgmt for Default Users

[amwoolf]

I am setting up a standard image so whenever anyone logons to the domain they have the same desktop image. I created a standard user and copied this profile into the Default User profile and this works great for anyone network user logoning onto this computer. There are no local user accoutns on the desktops. I am tying to set default power options as well but am having a problem. Is anyone aware if this can be done using a default user profile?

Thanks.

 

[linney]

HOW TO: Create a Custom Default User Profile (Q305709)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/7/09.asp

Q310514 HOW TO: Distribute a Custom Desktop Theme to Users in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q310/5/14.asp

Force all XP users to use the Default User profile
thread779-334751


Access Is Denied When Use a Limited User Account and Try to Edit Settings for Power Schemes(Q307066)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307066&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Hide Screen Saver tab, Requirements: At least Microsoft Windows 2000
Location: User Configuration\Control Panel\Display\

Description:
Removes the Screen Saver tab from Display in Control Panel.

This setting prevents users from using Control Panel to add, configure, or change the screen saver on the computer.




To use Windows Power Options, you must have a computer that is set up by the manufacturer to support these features. For more information, see the documentation that came with your computer.

Registry location to check.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\PowerCfg\PowerPolicies

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=power+settings+problem+windows+xp+policy&qt_s=Search

 

[amwoolf]

OK, I have seen these articles. I am successfully setting the default user profile for everyone with the exception of the power management features - which these computers do support. So I am trying to find a way to set these power setting - perhaps at login time via a logon script.

 

[linney]

Have you seen these too?

How to use Powercfg.exe in Windows Server 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324347

http://www.google.com/search?source...="power+management+"+default+user+profile+xp+

http://groups.google.com/groups?ie=UTF-8&q="power+management+"+default+user+profile+xp+&qt_s=Search

 

[amwoolf]

I found the Powercfg.exe article today. Am going to test that by putting it on a logon script. I beleive that should work. Thanks for the help.

 

[amwoolf]

Well, after trying this it turns out you must be an administrator to use this command (Powercfg.exe) to change settings - anyone can use it to list current settings. This makes no sense! Why must you be an administrator to change power settings when these are not global settings but per user settings? MS is really not user friendly! I have spent way too long trying to do a simple thing.

 

[linney]

Try using this with Powercfg.exe?

Have a look at Greg PALMER's free program, see if you can make use of that?

http://www.palmersoft.co.uk/runasuser.htm

294676 - HOW TO: Enable and Use the "Run As" Command When Running Programs in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294676&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Can Scheduled Tasks help?

 

[amwoolf]

Looks like I got it working. FYI, this is what I did..

As stated earlier, I creaed a standard user profile and made this the default profile. This runs as a restricted user (not certain why but it does) as there are no local user accounts on the computer.

I then added a local userid with the same name as the profile I created. Except I gave this userid Administrator privleges. Logged onto this local account, set the power options, then logged out.

Logged in as administrator and deleted this user account but left the profile. Copied this profile to Default User profile - same as I have done previously when setting up the desktop apps, etc.

Logged in with a new network userid (so there is no existing profile on the computer for this person) and all of the power options were as I set.

So this appears to work OK. Now, if I only knew why the person connects as a restricted user. Maybe because there is no local userid? Anyway, it seems to be working. Maybe someone could get MS to change the Powercfg.exe so it is usable to do these things.

Again, thanks for all of your assistance!