A. A. When a new user logs in for the first time a copy
of the default user profile (ntuser.dat) is copied into the users profile.
To set default settings for a user you can edit the default ntuser.dat
file. Anything you define under HKEY_CURRENT_USER can be changed by
editing ntuser.dat.
To change default settings for a new user on a workstation perform the
following:
- Start the registry editor (regedt32.exe)
- Select the "HKEY_USERS on Local Machine" window
- Select "Load Hive" from the Registry menu
- Move to %systemroot%\Profiles\Default User (e.g.
d:\winnt\Profiles\Default User)
- Select Ntuser.dat and click Open
- When it asks for a key name enter anything, e.g. defuser
- Now select the username (e.g. defuser) in the "HKEY_USERS on
Local Machine" window and make the changes (for example you could
change the wallpaper by changing defuser\Control Panel\Desktop\Wallpaper
)
Note - If you add new keys make sure everyone has at
least read access otherwise it will not be copied
- When you have made the changes select "Unload Hive" from
the Registry menu
- Close the registry editor
Anyone logging onto the machine will now pick up these default settings.
To configure a default NTUSER.DAT for a domain perform the above and
logon as a user to take these settings. You now need to export these out
to the PDC.
- Logon as an Administrator
- Start the System Control Panel Applet (Start - Settings - Control
Panel - System)
- Click the User Profiles tab
- You will see a list of all the profiles stored on the machine. Select
the one which has the settings you wish to use as the default for the
domain
- Click the "Copy to" button
- In the "Copy profile to" enter the location of the Netlogon
share of the PDC (usually %systemroot%\system32\Repl\Export\Scripts, you
want the Export area not Import as anything in Export is copied to the
import by the replication process), e.g.
h:\winnt\system32\repl\export\scripts (if h was mapped to the c$ drive
of the PDC).
In the "Permitted to use" click Change. Select Everyone and
click Add, then click OK.
- Click OK to start the copy.
- You should then check that the file ntuser.dat has been created where
you selected.
If you have trouble exporting a profile see Q. I get an error when I try to export a profile other than Administrator.
(I did :-) )