Windows 7 / Getting Started

Group Policy Settings in Windows 7

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 introduced many new categories of policy settings and enhanced some existing policy settings. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 also present new policy setting categories by which administrators can configure and lock down various aspects of client computers and the experience of those who use them.

Table below summarizes many of the new and enhanced policy categories on these different platforms and indicates their location within the Group Policy Management Editor. This table also indicates whether you can find additional information on these policy settings within this resource kit. Categories of policy settings that are prefixed with an asterisk (*) are new in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and categories of policy settings prefixed with a double asterisk (**) are enhanced with new policy setting subcategories of policy settings in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

New and Enhanced Group Policy Areas in Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008
CategoryDecriptionsLocation
Attachment ManagerConfigures behavior for evaluating highrisk attachmentsUser Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Attachment Manager
**BitLocker Drive EncryptionConfigures behavior of BitLocker Drive EncryptionComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\BitLocker Drive Encryption
*BranchCacheConfigures BranchCache caching behaviorComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Network \BranchCache
Deployed PrintersDeploys a printer connection to a computerComputer Configuration\Policies \Windows Settings\Deployed Printers
User Configuration\Windows Settings\Deployed Printers
Device InstallationPermits or restricts device installation based on device class or IDComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\System\Device Installation
Disk DiagnosticConfigures level of information displayed by diskfailure diagnosticsComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\System \Troubleshooting And Diagnostics\Disk Diagnostic
Disk NV CacheConfigures hybrid hard disk propertiesComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\System \Disk NV Cache
Event Log ServiceConfigures behavior for event logsComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Event Log Service
*FilesystemConfigures compression and other NTFS file system (NTFS) behaviorsComputer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System \Filesystem
*HomeGroupPrevents computers from joining a HomeGroupComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\HomeGroup
**Internet ExplorerConfigures Internet ExplorerComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer User Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer
*Network Connectivity Status IndicatorIs used by Network Awareness to verify the network environmentComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Network\Network Connectivity Status Indicator
Network SharingPrevents users from sharing from within their profile pathsUser Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Network Sharing
Offline FilesConfigures slow-link mode for offline filesComputer Configuration\Policies \Windows Settings\Network \Offline Files
Online AssistanceConfigures whether users can access untrusted Help content and other Help-related settingsComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Online Assistance User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Online Assistance
Performance Control PanelDisables access to performance toolComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\System \Performance Control Panel User Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\System \Performance Control Panel
Power ManagementConfigures Power Management options, notifications, behavior of Power button, Sleep behavior, hard disk settings, and video settingsComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\System \Power Management
Regional and Language OptionsRestricts access to regional and language optionsComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Regional And Language Options
User Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates \Control Panel\Regional And Language Options
Remote AssistanceConfigures the behavior of remote assistanceComputer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System \Remote Assistance
Removable StorageControls reading data from and writing data to removable storage devicesComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\System\Removable Storage Access
User Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System \Removable Storage Access
SearchPrevents indexing files in offline files cacheComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Search
*TCP/IP SettingsConfigures IPv6 transition technologies for DirectAccessComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Network \TCP/IP Settings
Terminal ServicesConfigures Remote Desktop client behaviorComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Terminal Services
User Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Terminal Services
**Troubleshooting and DiagnosticsControls the behavior of built-in diagnosticsComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\System \Troubleshooting And Diagnostics
User Account ProtectionConfigures elevation-prompt behavior and related settingsComputer Configuration\Policies \Windows Settings\Security Settings \Local Policies\Security Options
*Windows Anytime UpgradePrevents Windows Anytime Upgrade from runningComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Anytime Upgrade User Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates \Windows Components \Windows Anytime Upgrade
Windows Customer Experience Improvement ProgramConfigures Customer Experience Improvement Program behaviorComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program
Windows DefenderComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Defender
Windows Error ReportingConfigures Windows Error Reporting behavior, including advanced settings and consent behaviorComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Error Reporting
User Configuration\Policies\Windows Components\Administrative Templates\Windows Error Reporting
Windows Firewall with Advance SecurityConfigures Windows Firewall and Internet Protocol security (IPsec) settingsComputer Configuration\Policies \Windows Settings\Security Settings \Windows Firewall With Advance Security
Windows Logon OptionsDisplays message when logging on with cached credentials and configures behavior when logon hours expireComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Logon Options User Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Logon Options
*Windows Reliability AnalysisConfigures Reliability WMI providersComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Reliability Analysis
Windows UpdateEnables Windows Update Power Management to wake the system automatically to install scheduled updatesComputer Configuration\Policies \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update
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In this tutorial:

  1. Managing the Desktop Environment
  2. Understanding Group Policy in Windows 7
  3. Group Policy Before Windows Vista
  4. Group Policy in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
  5. New Group Policy Features in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
  6. Group Policy Policy Settings in Windows 7
  7. Understanding ADMX Template Files
  8. Types of ADMX Template Files
  9. Local Storage of ADMX Template Files
  10. Considerations When Working with ADMX Template Files
  11. Understanding Multiple Local Group Policy
  12. MLGPOs and Group Policy Processing
  13. Managing Group Policy
  14. Adding ADMX Templates to the Store
  15. Creating and Managing GPOs
  16. Using Starter GPOs
  17. Creating and Managing GPOs Using the GPMC
  18. Creating and Managing GPOs Using Windows PowerShell
  19. Editing GPOs
  20. Configuring Policy Settings
  21. Configuring Preference Items
  22. Managing MLGPOs
  23. Migrating ADM Templates to ADMX Format
  24. Converting ADM Template Files to ADMX Format
  25. Creating and Editing Custom ADMX Template Files
  26. Configuring Group Policy Processing
  27. Using Advanced Group Policy Management
  28. Troubleshooting Group Policy
  29. Enabling Debug Logging
  30. Using Group Policy Log View
  31. Using GPResult