Customizing the Desktop

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When Windows 2000 Professional is part of a Windows 2000 Server network running Active Directory, powerful administrative functions — such as Group Policy and change and configuration management — are available to customize and control the desktop.

Use Group Policy to set and enforce Group Policy settings on multiple workstations from a central location. There are more than 550 Group Policy settings, including those that help prevent users from making potentially counter-productive changes to their computers. You can optimize the desktop for the specific needs of each workgroup or department in your organization.

For more information about Group Policy, see Using Group Policy Settings for Desktop Control later in this chapter.

Change and Configuration Management features include User Data Management, Software Installation and Maintenance, and User Settings Management, which are collectively known as the IntelliMirror management technologies. IntelliMirror and Remote OS Installation are the Windows 2000 Change and Configuration Management technology set.

IntelliMirror features increase the availability of the users computer and computing environment by intelligently storing information, settings, and programs. Remote OS Installation installs Windows 2000 Professional operating system and desktop images on new or replacement computers without on-site technical support. When you combine IntelliMirror and Remote OS Installation throughout your organization, you create a system that makes computer replacement easier.

You can use Change and Configuration Management features to perform the following functions:

  • Define computing environment settings centrally for both groups of users and computers. Then you can rely on Windows 2000 to enforce those settings.

  • Make it possible for users to log on to any computer on their network and have the same computing environment, including access to their data, programs, and preference settings.

  • Enable users to find all their data files and network files quickly, even when they are working offline. Offline files are cached locally and are synchronized with the server.

  • Manage software installation, updates, and removal, all from a central location. Programs can also repair themselves if a user inadvertently removes key files.

  • Replace a computer quickly and then regenerate its settings, restoring data, programs, preferences, and administrative policies.

  • Allow workstations enabled with Preboot Execution Environment (PXE)–based remote boot technology to install an operating system on the local hard disk drive automatically.

Microsoft Systems Management Server also provides change and configuration management services. You can use Systems Management Server in combination with IntelliMirror and Remote OS Installation.

For information about the benefits of combining these technologies, see Introduction to Desktop Management in the Distributed Systems Guide . For more information about deploying Windows 2000 Professional with Windows 2000 Server, see the Deployment Planning Guide .