From Server 2003, what are the steps to control the workstations/clients...specifically to disallow users to change their desktops (wallpaper)?

Ron

Hello Ronhride, welcome to PCHF!

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Smokeycheech

Hello & Welcome Ronhride!

That's a great question and the answer is - control of client desktops is handled through the application of various Group Policies from within the Active Directory.

Group Policy is a fine way to lay down your site's "corporate law". It also has great possibility of mucking up a system quickly if you over limit.

Rather than attempt to teach you Group Policy here in the forum, I would like to recommend that you enter a course - Microsoft offers several of them.

OR perhaps you might pick up a book. The MCSE Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Planning, Implementation, and Maintenance covers Group Policy. My *favorite* Group Policy book though is from the Mark Minasi Administrator Series - Group Policy, Profiles, and IntelliMirror for Windows 2003.

Stopping people changing wallpaper is not as simple as you may think if people have different size monitors then they will need different size wallpapers so you would have to set the default tied to a script which works out there screen size. In some countries it could be illegal to stop them changing it on health and safety grounds as it could give headaches etc