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How To Configure The Windows Default User Profile - Apache VCL - Apache Software Foundation

The document provides steps to customize the default user profile in Windows to configure settings like the desktop background and icons. It includes instructions for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. The steps involve creating a custom profile, copying it to the default, and cleaning the registry.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
127 views

How To Configure The Windows Default User Profile - Apache VCL - Apache Software Foundation

The document provides steps to customize the default user profile in Windows to configure settings like the desktop background and icons. It includes instructions for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. The steps involve creating a custom profile, copying it to the default, and cleaning the registry.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HowtoConfiguretheWindowsDefaultUserProfileApacheVCLApacheSoftwareFoundation

ApacheVCL / / HowTo's

HowtoConfiguretheWindowsDefaultUserProfile
CreatedbyJoshThompson,lastmodifiedbyAndyKurthonApr16,2014

AWindowsuserprofiledefinesthelookandfeelofthedesktopenvironmentconfiguredforaparticularuser.Itcontainsvarioussettings
suchasdesktopcolors,backgrounds,iconplacement,andWindowsExplorersettings.Thedefaultprofileisatemplateprofilethatis
usedwhenauserlogsontoaWindowscomputerforthefirsttime.Thedefaultprofilecanbecustomizedbytheimagecreator.

Windows7andWindowsServer2008
EnableDesktopBackground
CreateaProfileSetupAccount
ConfiguretheUserProfilefortheProfileSetupAccount
CopytheCustomizedProfiletoDefault
CleantheRegistryfortheCustomizedProfile
ConfiguretheUserAccountPicture(Optional)
ForcetheDesktopBackgroundtoAppearonWindows7&WindowsServer2008(Optional)
WindowsXPandWindowsServer2003
CreateaProfileConfigurationAccount
CopytheCustomizedProfileto"DefaultUser"
CleanuptheProfileConfigurationAccount

Windows7andWindowsServer2008
MicrosoftdoesnotsupportcopyingprofilesunderWindows7andWindowsServer2008.The"CopyTo"buttonisgrayedoutforall
profilesexceptthedefaultprofile.TheonlysupportedmethodisbuiltintoSysprepandthismethodisitselfveryproblematic.The
followingstepsarenotsupportedorrecommendedbyMicrosoftbutseemtowork:

EnableDesktopBackground
1.DownloadandedittheRDPfileforyourimagingreservationfromtheVCLwebsitetoallowdesktopbackgroundsorelseyouwont
beabletochangethedesktopbackgroundcolor
a.Rightclickonthe.rdpfileandselectEdit
b.ClickontheExperiencetab
c.SelectLAN(10Mbpsorhigher)
d.MakesurethecheckboxnexttoDesktopbackgroundisenabled

e.ClickontheGeneraltab
f.ClickSave
2.LogintotheVCLreservationasAdministrator
3.ConfigureWindowsExplorertoshowhiddenandsystemfile
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/VCL/How+to+Configure+the+Windows+Default+User+Profile

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a.OpenWindowsExplorer
b.ClickOrganize>Folderandsearchoptions
c.SelecttheViewtab
d.SelecttheradiobuttonnexttoShowhiddenfiles,folders,anddrives
e.ClickOK

CreateaProfileSetupAccount
1.CreateanewlocaluseraccountnamedProfileSetup(Note:thenamedoesnotmatterbutshouldbesomethingthatwouldnot
matchanotherstringinthestockWindowsregistry.Youwillbesearchingtheregistryforthenameoftheuseryouuseto
configuretheprofile.Usingauniquenamewillmakethiseasier.)
a.OpenControlPanel>Addorremoveuseraccounts
b.IfthereisalreadyanaccountnamedProfileSetupandyouwanttostartoverwithanewaccount,deletetheexisting
accountandthencreateanewone:
i.ClickontheProfileSetupuser
ii.ClickDeletetheaccount
iii.ClickDeleteFiles
iv.ClickDeleteAccount
c.ClickCreateanewaccount
d.Entertheaccountname:ProfileSetup
e.ClicktheradiobuttonnexttoAdministrator
f.ClickCreateAccount
2.SetthepasswordfortheProfileSetupaccount
a.ClickontheProfileSetupaccount
b.ClickCreateapassword
c.EnterthepasswordandclickCreatepassword

ConfiguretheUserProfilefortheProfileSetupAccount
1.LogoutasAdministratorandloginasProfileSetup

Ifyouintendtoarrangetheiconsonthedesktop,useascreensizeof1024x768whenloggedinasProfileSetup.Thisis
thedefaultscreensizethatmostuserswillusewhentheyconnecttoVCLreservations.Ifyouarrangetheiconsusinga
customscreensize,theiconsmostusersseewillberearrangedwhentheyconnectusingthedefaultsize.

2.CustomizetheuserprofilewhileloggedinasProfileSetupaccount(configurethedesktopbackground,arrangeicons,etc).The
followingtipsareoptional:
a.DownloadandrunAutoruns.Thisfreeutilitywillshowyouallofthethingsthatrunwhenthecomputerboots,auserlogs
in,etc.ThereareseveralthingsthatcanprobablybedisabledsuchasWindowsMail.

CopytheCustomizedProfiletoDefault
1.LogoutasProfileSetupandloginasAdministrator
2.RenametheProfileSetupuserprofilefoldertoDefault:
a.OpenaWindowsExplorerwindowandnavigatetoC:\Users
b.Renametheoriginaldefaultprofilefolder:C:\Users\Default>C:\Users\DefaultOriginal
c.Renamethecustomizedprofilefolder:C:\Users\ProfileSetup>C:\Users\Default
Note:ifyouareunabletorenametheProfileSetupfolder,rebootthecomputer,loginasAdministrator,andtryagain.Runthe
followingcommandfromacommandprompttorebootthecomputer:
shutdown.exerft0
3.CopythecustomizedprofilefolderusingtheWindowsprofilecopyingutility:
Note:Windows7onlyallowsitsbuiltinprofilecopyingutilitytobeusedtocopythedefaultprofile,notprofilesofotheruser
accounts.Theprofileyoucustomizednowresidesinthedefaultprofilelocation(C:\Users\Default)sotheutilitycannowbeused
tomakeacopyofit.
a.OpenControlPanel>SystemandSecurity>System
b.ClickAdvancedsystemsettingsontheleft
c.ClicktheSettings...buttonunderUserProfiles
d.HighlightDefaultProfile
e.ClickCopyTo
i.Copyprofileto:C:\Users\DefaultCopy
ii.ClickChangeunderPermittedtouse
iii.EnterEveryoneandclickOK
iv.ClickOK
4.ReplacetheoriginalcustomizedprofiledirectorywiththeonecreatedbytheWindowsprofilecopyingutility
Note:C:\Users\Defaultcontainstheoriginalcustomizedprofile.ThesameprofilealsoresidesinC:\Users\DefaultCopy.The
DefaultCopyfolderistheonewhichhashadtheWindowsprofilecopyingutilitytransformationsappliedtoit.
a.OpenWindowsExplorer
b.DeletetheC:\Users\Defaultfolder
c.Renamethefolder:C:\UsersDefaultCopy>C:\Users\Default
5.DeletetheProfileSetupaccount:
a.OpenControlPanel>Addorremoveuseraccounts
b.ClickontheProfileSetupaccount
c.ClickDeletetheaccount
d.ClickDeleteFiles
e.ClickDeleteAccount
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/VCL/How+to+Configure+the+Windows+Default+User+Profile

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CleantheRegistryfortheCustomizedProfile
1.WhileloggedinasAdministrator
2.Runregedit.exe
3.SelecttheHKEY_USERShive:

4.ClicktheFilemenuandselectLoadHive:

5.BrowsetoC:\Users\Default
6.Enterntuser.datintheFilename:field(Note:thisfileishiddensoitnormallyisnotdisplayedinthelistoffiles)

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7.EnteraKeyName:DU

8.Navigateto:HKEY_USERS\DU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellFolders
YouwillprobablyseethepathtotheProfileSetupaccount'soriginaluserprofiledirectorysavedinmanyofthevaluesas
highlightedbelow.Thiscancauseproblemswithprogramswhichusethesevalues.Forexample,ausermaysaveafiletothe
Desktopfromwithinaprogram,butthesavedfiledoesn'tappearontheuser'sdesktop.

https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/VCL/How+to+Configure+the+Windows+Default+User+Profile

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9.DeleteallofthevaluesunderShellFoldersexceptfor(Default)and"!Donotusethisregistrykey":

10.SelecttheDUkeyintheleftpane
11.ClickontheEditmenuandselectFind...
12.SearchtheDUkeyforthestringProfileSetup.Ingeneral,youwanttocleanupeverythingthatreferencestheusernamed
ProfileSetupandtheC:\Users\ProfileSetupdirectory.TherewillprobablybeseveralplacesunderDUwherethesearesaved.
Youwillneedtoanalyzeeachmatch.Mostmatcheswon'tcauseproblems.SomewillsuchastheShellFolderskeyyou
previouslycleanedup.
13.IMPORTANT:UnloadtheDefaultuserregistryhive:
a.SelecttheDUkey
b.ClicktheFilemenuandselectUnloadhive...
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/VCL/How+to+Configure+the+Windows+Default+User+Profile

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Anynewlocaluseraccountscreatedonthecomputershouldreceiveauserprofileconfiguredwiththecustomizationsyoumadetothe
Profileaccount.

ConfiguretheUserAccountPicture(Optional)
1.Navigatetothedirectory:C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\UserAccountPictures
(Note:youwillneedtoenable"Showhiddenfiles"toseethisdirectory)
2.Renameuser.bmptosomethingsuchasuseroriginal.bmp
3.Copythe.bmpfileyouwantusedastheaccountpicturetothisdirectoryandnameituser.bmp

ForcetheDesktopBackgroundtoAppearonWindows7&WindowsServer2008(Optional)
ThefollowingprocedureshouldforceadesktopwallpaperimagetobedisplayedforallusersregardlessofwhetherornottheDesktop
Backgroundoptionisselectedinthe.rdpfile.Thiscouldbeusefulifyouwantalogooranimagecontaininginstructionsfortheuserto
alwaysbedisplayed.Therearesomelocalgrouppolicysettingswhichcanbeconfiguredtoforceawallpapertobeshownandprevent
usersfromchangingit.However,thisonlyseemstoworkiftheDesktopBackgroundoptionisselectedinthe.rdpfile.
Youmayencounterdifficultygettingthewallpapertobedisplayedunderallsituations.Oneknownsituationiswhenauserconnectswith
theDesktopBackgroundoptiondisabled.Thewallpapershouldbedisplayedinitially.Iftheuserdisconnectsfromtheremotecomputer
(butdoesnotlogout)andthenreconnects,thewallpaperwillprobablynotappear.
1.Rungpedit.msc
2.NavigatetoUserConfiguration>WindowsSettings>Scripts(Logon/Logoff)
3.DoubleclickLogon
4.ClickShowFiles...
Thefollowingdirectoryshouldopen:C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\User\Scripts\Logon
5.Createanewtextfilewitha.cmdextensioninthisdirectory
6.Addthefollowingtothefile:
setWALLPAPER_PATH=%1
reg.exeADD"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Remote\2\ControlPanel\Desktop"/vWallpaper/d"%WALLPAPER_PATH%"/f
reg.exeADD"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Remote\2\ControlPanel\Desktop"/vWallpaperStyle/d0/f
reg.exeADD"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Desktop"/vWallpaper/d"%WALLPAPER_PATH%"/f
reg.exeADD"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\Desktop\General"/v
WallpaperSource/d"%WALLPAPER_PATH%"/f
7.Savethe.cmdfile
8.ClicktheAdd...buttonontheLogonProperitespane:

9.ClickBrowse...
10.Selectthe.cmdfileandclickOpen
11.EnterthepathtoanimagefileintheScriptParametersbox:

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12.ClickOKtwice
13.ClosetheLocalGroupPolicyEditory
14.Rungpupdate.exe/force

WindowsXPandWindowsServer2003
CreateaProfileConfigurationAccount
1.WhileloggedonasAdministrator,createalocalWindowsuseraccountnamedProfileandaddittotheAdministratorsgroup
2.Configuretheprofile:
a.LogonasProfile
b.Makedesiredprofile,desktop,andapplicationchanges
c.Logout

CopytheCustomizedProfileto"DefaultUser"
1.LogbackonasAdministrator
2.RenametheC:\DocumentsandSettings\DefaultUserdirectorytosomethinglikeDefaultUserOriginal
3.OpentheControlPanel
4.OpenSystemProperties
5.SelecttheAdvancedtab
6.ClicktheSettingsbuttonnexttoUserProfiles
7.SelectProfile'sprofile,clickCopyTo:
Copyprofileto:C:\DocumentsandSettings\DefaultUser
Permittedtouse:addtheEveryonegroup
8.ClickOK

CleanuptheProfileConfigurationAccount
1.DeletetheProfileuser
2.DeleteC:\DocumentsandSettings\Profile
Youcanthencreateanotheraccountandloginusingittomakesureyourprofilesettingstakeaffectfornewusers.Besuretodeleteit
onceyou'redonetesting.

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