Software
How can I force all users that log into a single Windows 2000 system to automaticly use the same Outlook 2000 profile (no Exchange).
Login script? Batch file reference to environment variable? (if so, can you throw one at me?) Or is it easier than that?
by joseph moore
You would have to preconfigure the mail settings in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry hive to use the mail profile.
If the users have already logged into the machine before, then this is a little more difficult to do, but possible.
I would log into the machine wiht an account with Administrator access, but it should be one that has never logged into this Win2K machine before.
Let the user profile build (which it does on default), then open Outlook and set up the mail profile.
Next, log out.
Now, log in as your normal Administrator account.
Open the Documents & Settings folder (in My Computer or Windows Explorer) to see all of the profiles on the Win2K machine that currently exist.
On the menu bar on top of the Explorer window, click Tools -> Folder Options -> View and select the Show Hidden Files and unselect the Hide Protected Operating System files option. YOu want to unhide the Default Users folder (normally hidden).
Ok. Now, in the Documents & Settings folder, the Default User folder should now be visible.
Right-click it and rename it (OLD Default User).
Next, on the profile for the administrator-level account you previously logged in with that you set up Outlook for, rename it to Default User.
Last, and the part that can be difficult, is to delete the currently-existing profiles for the users you want to all have the same Outlook profile. If those users have documents saved in their profile, then you will have to copy them somewhere save before you delete their profiles.
But the basic point is get rid of any profiles on the Win2K machine that exist that you want those users to use the preconfigured Outlook settings.
by joseph moore
Once the profiles are deleted, have the users log in to the Win2K machine. Their new profiles will be created on this machine, and since the CURRENT_USER registry piece was already set up for OUtlook, these users will inherit those settings.
Theycan open Outlook, and the same user profile will be there.
You can do the same thing with shared printer connections, saved URLs, etc.
Some people hate to do this, but it really is a timesaver. You can set up a profile, save it to a network share, then import it on any new machine you have to roll out if you have settings you want everyone to have.
I kind of like doing some stuff this way (printer sharing; it is a blessing!!!!)
hope this helps
by nsteere
by shmaltz
by nsteere
by shmaltz
by nsteere
by nsteere
Hi Joe,
Welllll, I ran into these issues (in order):
User starts Outlook (using the new "Default User" profile)but is told that the .pst file cannot be found and it shows the path to the temporary administrator profile folder. You have to tell it to make a new pst with each new user.
Then, when you try to send/receive, the mail accounts need the passwords again
by nsteere
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