Profile dependant software stuff

[RingoSaturn]

When using Outlook 2000 or IExplore, when a new user sits down to a PC and logs into it for the first time, they have to configure settings. In other words, they need to go through the IE wizard to make the LAN settings as their communication method, etc. This means users inevitably call the help desk to get this set up.

Is there an easy way to have things set up in Windows so that these settings will automatically generate for a new profile, when a new user logs into a PC?

[Newt]

If you are running a domain, you can do this with a script run from the login profile:
- check to see if the user has been on the PC before. If yes, end script.
- otherwise pop up a message saying. "Hi. We notice this is your first time logging on to this PC so we are setting up a few things for you. It will just take a minute."
- run a script that tweaks the registry with all the setup values you want the user to have.
- end script.

[Silicon Scream]

Preventively:

When you roll out the PC, go through this wizard once and then copy your profile over the 'default' user profile. That will fix this for users coming to that machine in the future.

For machines already rolled out:

I like the login script idea, however, if you are in a domain, I don't think you need it. VIA the group policy, you can modify 'default' settings for IE that would have this setup for a user before they ever touched a machine. There's a place in the IE settings under group policy which allow you to export your own personal IE connection settings to the domain controller and have them applied on user login.

[RingoSaturn]

Thanks for the suggestions.