Win2K3 Custom Group Policy not working!

[Michael Williams_6]

Hi, I've been evaluating Windows Live Messenger as a tool to allow our remote workers to talk for free instead of SkyPE, which works fine. I've found the registry key to disable the folder sharing, which I think is a security risk and it's rediculous that disabling this isn't documented.

Anyway, having spent all creating an administrative template for Group Policy Editor:

ATEGORY "Windows Live Messenger"

POLICY "Disable Folder Sharing"
KEYNAME "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSNMessenger"
VALUENAME "SharingDisabled"
VALUEON 1
VALUEOFF 0
PART "When Enabled Folder Sharing in Windows Live Messenger will be Disabled" TEXT
END PART
END POLICY

END CATEGORY

I find that it doesn't work. If I change the key to anything SOFTWARE\anything and then it appears in GPedit, if it says SOFTWARE\microsoft - it fecking disappears.

Does anyone know a way around this? Or an alternative way of keeping all computers on the Domain with a specific key..?

[Rune J. Winje]

Haven't tried this myself, but looking briefly at the example here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323639

I see that your template may be missing the CLASS USER or COMPUTER

(I assume the ATEGORY is a typo and should read CATEGORY :o)

The CLASS is important, because it defines if the policy should be applied to the computer or the user policy. Some settings can only be applied to one or the other. My guess the USER class is correct in your example.


Cheers,
Rune

[Paul Slijkhuis]

Have a look at these websites for easy maintanance and troubleshooting GPO's.

ADM editing tool here (trial): http://www.sysprosoft.com/adm_summary.shtml

The GPO guy website biundles a lot of tools and hints: http://www.gpoguy.com/Tools.htm

h2h
-Paul