Customizing the Desktop

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Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional provides users with more options to tailor the desktop user interface and gives administrators better tools to enforce standards within their organizations. Using features such as Active Desktop, custom toolbars and taskbars, and new Start and Programs menus options, you can customize the user interface to help increase your productivity. Using Group Policy settings, administrators can enforce standards and prevent inappropriate use of features such as wallpaper and screen saver settings.

Before you read this chapter, read Introduction to Configuration and Management in this book, particularly the sections on Group Policy and profiles.

If you plan to deploy Windows 2000 Professional in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server network, read the related server documentation listed below.

In This Chapter

Quick Guide to Customizing the Desktop

Overview of Desktop Customization and Configuration

Defining Desktop Administration Standards

Implementing Custom Desktops in a Windows 2000 Server Network

Implementing Custom Desktop Configurations in Non–Windows 2000 Server Networks

Using Group Policy Settings for Desktop Control

Desktop Shortcuts and Icons

Active Desktop and Wallpaper Settings

Start and Programs Menus

Customizing the Taskbar and Toolbars

Limiting Access to Display Options

Screen Saver Group Policy Settings

Restoring the Original Configuration

Choosing a New User Interface

Troubleshooting

  • For more information about using Group Policy, see Introduction to Configuration and Management in this book.

  • For more information about Group Policy settings, see the Group Policy reference on the Microsoft Windows   2000 Resource Kit companion CD.

  • For more information about using Group Policy, see Group Policy and Introduction to Desktop Management in the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit Distributed Systems Guide.

  • For more information about managing the Windows 2000 Professional desktop in a Windows 2000 Server environment, see Introduction to Desktop Management in the Distributed Systems Guide .

  • For more information about defining and setting configuration standards, see Defining Client Administration and Configuration Standards and Applying Change and Configuration Management in the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit Deployment Planning Guide .