How to create system policies in Windows 95/98.

Question

I heard that there was a way to create system policies within WIndows

95 or 98, do you know how to do this?

Answer

This question was answered on April 28, 2001. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

There is a utility that Microsoft included in Windows 95 and 98 called the "Systems Policy Editor". You can use this tool to create or edit system policies in order to standardize the appearance and capabilities of Windows 95/98 for a single user, a group of users, or the entire network. This utility is not supported in Windows Me.

The System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) is available in the Admin\Apptools\Poledit folder on the Windows 95/98 CD-ROM. Use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel to install System Policy Editor. It can also be downloaded directly from Microsoft at <a href="http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q135/3/15.ASP" target="_blank"><font color="#003399">>http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q135/3/15.ASP</b></font></a>.

Once it is installed, to create a new policy file;

1. Open the Policy Editor.

2. On the File menu, click New File.

3. To add a user, click the Edit menu, click Add User, and then type the name of the person you want to set policies for.

To add a computer name, click Add Computer, and then type the name of the computer you want to set policies for.

To add a group of users, click Add Group, and then type the name of the group you want to set policies for.

4. To set policies for a user, group, or computer, click the icon you want to set policies for, click the Edit menu, and then click Properties. Double-click a book icon to see what settings are available.

If a policy is checked, the policy will be implemented. For example, if Disable File Sharing Controls is checked, then the user will not be able to share folders over the network.

Be aware that this utility is actually editing the registry, so as always, make a backup of the registry before you start.

Author

Posted by Brian of Data Doctors on April 28, 2001