Introduction to Group Policy Troubleshooting
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
This guide explains how to troubleshoot Group Policy. If you are using this guide for the first time, review the following sections of this introduction.
When to Use this Guide
This troubleshooting guide is designed to help you identify and resolve problems related to Group Policy. You should use this guide when:
You have configured a policy setting but it is not applying as expected.
You have specified the scope of Group Policy through filtering but it is not applying as expected.
You are having problems using a specific Group Policy extension, such as Security Settings or Folder Redirection.
Who Should Use this Guide
This guide is written for IT professionals in small, medium, and large organizations. It assumes a basic understanding of what Group Policy is, how it works, and why your organization uses it. You should also have a thorough understanding of how Group Policy is deployed and managed in your organization. This includes understanding how Group Policy is configured throughout your organization and the mechanism that your organization uses to configure Group Policy settings.
How to Use this Guide
This guide is divided into four sections. Each section addresses a type of problem, ranging from less complex to more complex.
Verifying Administrative Workstation Settings for Troubleshooting Group Policy
This section provides a list of prerequisites and settings that must be verified before you troubleshoot. Read this section first.
This section provides quick solutions to the most common Group Policy problems. Read this section if you have verified your computers settings, but your problem persists.
Configuring Administrative Workstation Settings for Group Policy Troubleshooting
This section describes how to configure your computer for advanced troubleshooting. Read this section if you cannot find a solution in the Group Policy Quick Fixes section.
Troubleshooting Group Policy Problems
This section provides information and diagnostic procedures that help you identify and fix Group Policy problems.
Additional Resources for Group Policy
This section provides links to additional information that you can use to identify and fix Group Policy problems.