Group Policy Resources

Article
04/30/2009

In the last couple of weeks I have been working with customers on GPO implementations. One of the first things I show them are the Excel spreadsheets that contain all the settings in a search able format. These spreadsheets are useful when you don't know the name of the setting but know the item you are trying to control. The files contain the name of the policy setting name, scope, policy path, Registry information, requirements and explanatory text for every GPO setting. Anyone who is working on GPO administration should have a copy of thee files.

Let's say you are trying to control the recycle bin behavior on your Vista computers but you don't know what policies are available. Open the "GPO_WindowsServer2008andWindowsVistaSP1GroupPolicySettings.xls" file (see below), select the "Administrative Templates" tab, hit CTRL+HOME to go to cell A1 then hit CTRL+F to open the find dialog and enter the word recycle and press enter. Each new line contains a different setting. You can also use this method if you have a registry key that needs to be set and you are trying find out which policy setting you can use.

For additional information on managing configuration using Group Policy spend some times with the links below. If you are new to Group Policy, start with the Group Policy Documentation Survival Guide.

RESOURCES

The Basics

Group Policy Settings Reference for Windows Server
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=18c90c80-8b0a-4906-a4f5-ff24cc2030fb&displaylang=en

Group Policy Settings Reference (2003 & XP)
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=7821c32f-da15-438d-8e48-45915cd2bc14

Group Policy Management Console with Service Pack 1
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0A6D4C24-8CBD-4B35-9272-DD3CBFC81887&displaylang=en

Group Policy ADM Files
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=92759d4b-7112-4b6c-ad4a-bbf3802a5c9b

Group Policy Documentation Survival Guide
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=66643d52-bd3d-4b10-972c-316eca5dbedf

Vista/Server 2008

Group Policy ADM Files
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=92759d4b-7112-4b6c-ad4a-bbf3802a5c9b

Group Policy ADMX Syntax Reference Guide
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=b0628355-baa2-4565-80a4-467245db9e28

Group Policy ADMX Schema files
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=b4cb0039-e091-4ee8-9ec0-2bbce56c539e

Starter Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=ae3ddba7-af7a-4274-9d34-1ad96576e823