user settings not applied to all workstations

[codasco]

Im setting up a Win2003 server with no previous experience, so please bear with me. After struggling with the server for a while, I FINALLY got my workstations to join the local domain. Now my problem is that user settings (wallpaper, desktop shortcuts, etc.) do not stay intact when someone logs on at a different workstaion. If I change my wallpaper or add a shortcut to the desktop on one computer, it will be there the next time I log on at that same workstation, however, If I log on at a different workstation I get a default wallpaper and a default set of icons/shortcuts on my desktop. What do I need to do so that user settings stay intact no matter what workstation I log on at.

 

[Pilot1]

Codasco,
Using roaming profiles and group policy are two ways to do this. They are two fairly complex things to explain on this forum, but Microsoft goes into it fairly thoroughly on their web site, or a good Admin manual will fill you in.

 

[arkadiusz]

one word of advice when using roaming profiles, roaming profiles only work when you have identical machines on your network connected to a server. if you have different software & hardware installed on most of your machines that you want to install roaming profiles, be advised that you will encounter problems. If you plan on using roaming profiles, use it with computers that are identical, both hardware & software wise. Otherwise, you will encounter problems such as unable to load programs at startup, broken links, programs appearing in your startup menu that aren't even installed on the specified machine but on another one instead. Just a tip!

 

[codasco]

Thanks for everyone's help. That gives me a start and something to read up on!

 

[dmcse]

Make sure your GPO settings are configured mostly for the user instead of the Machine.