Appendix B: Resources for Learning About Group Policy for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2

In this appendix

Installing the Group Policy Management Console on a computer running Windows 7

Installing the Group Policy Management Console on a server running Windows Server 2008 R2

Using the Group Policy Management Console to view or change Group Policy settings

Additional references

The Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) unifies the management of all aspects of Group Policy. By using the GPMC, you can manage Group Policy objects (GPOs), Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) filters, and permissions on your network.

Installing the Group Policy Management Console on a computer running Windows 7

The following procedure explains how to install the GPMC on Windows® 7.

To install the GPMC on a computer running Windows 7

  1. Download the Administrative Tools package from the following Microsoft® Web site to a location on your computer:

    Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7

  2. Open the folder where the package downloaded, double-click the package name, and then click Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 Setup Wizard.

Note

You must accept the License Terms and Limited Warranty to install the Administration Tools package.

  1. Follow the instructions in the wizard to complete the installation.

  2. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Programs and Features.

  3. Click Turn Windows features on or off.

  4. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

  5. In the Windows Features dialog box, expand Remote Server Administration Tools, and then expand Feature Administration Tools.

  6. Select Group Policy Management Tools check box, and then click OK.

Installing the Group Policy Management Console on a server running Windows Server 2008 R2

The following procedure explains how to install the GPMC on Windows Server® 2008 R2.

To install the GPMC on a server running Windows Server 2008 R2

  1. If you recently installed Windows Server 2008 R2, and the Initial Configuration Tasks interface is displayed, under Customize This Server, click Add features. Then skip to step 3.

  2. If the Initial Configuration Tasks interface is not displayed and Server Manager is not running, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager. (If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.)

  3. In Server Manager, under Features Summary, click Add Features.

  4. In the Add Features Wizard, select the Group Policy Management check box.

  5. Follow the instructions in the wizard to complete the installation.

Using the Group Policy Management Console to view or change Group Policy settings

Some settings in Group Policy were added in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, some existed previously and continue to work for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and some settings that you see in Group Policy in Windows Server 2008 R2 have an effect on previous operating systems, but they do not affect Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

To change settings that were added in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, use the following procedure.

To view or change Group Policy settings

  1. Using an account with membership in Domain Admins, Enterprise Admins, or an equivalent group, log on to a computer on which either of the following operating systems is installed:

    • Windows Server 2008 R2 and the GPMC.

    • Windows 7 and the GPMC that is included in Remote Server Administration Tools.

      After you install the Remote Server Administration Tools, you must turn on the GPMC as follows: Open Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Turn Windows features on or off. In the resulting dialog box, expand the list for Remote Server Administration Tools, expand the list for Feature Tools, and then select Group Policy Management Tools.

  2. Open the GPMC by using one of the following methods:

    • In Windows Server 2008 R2, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Group Policy Management.

    • In Windows 7, click Start, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Group Policy Management.

    • In either operating system, click Start, and in the Search box type: gpmc.msc

  3. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

  4. In the GPMC, double-click Group Policy Objects in the forest and domain containing the Group Policy object (GPO) that you want to edit.

  5. Edit the appropriate GPO, or create and link a new GPO and then edit it.

    For information about how to work with Group Policy objects, in Group Policy Management, press F1, and then search Help for an appropriate topic, such as Link a Group Policy Object or Edit a Group Policy Object.

  6. In the Group Policy Management Editor (which opens when you edit a GPO), view or change settings as appropriate.

Note

We recommend that when you view an individual setting, you click the Extended tab and view the Requirements (operating system requirements) that are listed for the setting.

Additional references

For more information about Group Policy and the GPMC, see the following resources on the Microsoft® Web site:

Also refer to the following section in this document: