How to Create Mandatory Profiles for Windows 95/98 Users a in Windows NT Domain (161809)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q161809

SUMMARY

It is possible to create a single mandatory profile for all Windows 95/98 users on your network. This profile will maintain consistent desktops for each user specified. For example, if an administrator wants to create a single user profile and have that profile represent the default desktop for an organization or business unit.

MORE INFORMATION

To create mandatory profiles for Windows 95/98 users, perform the following steps:

(Each Windows 95/98 user has a valid domain account)
  1. Prior to starting the process, each Windows 95/98 user will need to have a home directory created. This is because the profile will be read from and updated to this directory.
    For additional information on creating individual home directories, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    ARTICLE-ID: 139449
    TITLE : How to Create Individual Home Directories

  2. Create a test user on the domain in User Manager. Ensure this test user has a home directory and this home directory is entered in the users' environment profile. In the home directory portion, specify the drive letter and UNC path to the home directory.
  3. Log on to the Windows 95/98 computer as the test user.
  4. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the Passwords icon, and then click the User Profiles tab.
  5. Click the radio button "Users can customize their preferences and desktop settings. Windows switches to your personal settings whenever you log in." Click OK. This is not the default setting.
  6. Customize the Windows 95/98 desktop as you want it to be for the mandatory profile, including drive and printer mappings, colors, wallpaper, and so forth, then log off of the Windows 95/98 computer. After logging off the User.dat file is created in the users' home directory.
  7. On the Windows NT Server computer, rename the User.dat file to User.man and then copy the file to all other Windows 95/98 home directories of those computers using this mandatory profile.
After the Windows 95/98 computer is restarted, and after the users log on, they should receive the mandatory profile for the Windows 95/98 computer created by the Administrator.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbinfo kbnetwork kbpolicy kbui kbusage KB161809
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