Adraco

Oh, you are so gonna have to rep me for this...

In good ole' Windows XP there is a feature called "User Profiles" and every new user is built up from the "Default Profile". And you can make this Default Profile with customizations yourself.

Do like this:
1. Create a new admin user on the machine, let's call it TONY.
2. Install all programs, printers and equipment you'll be using on the computer and arrange all icons as you want them, arrange the Start menu as you please (C:\Documents and Settings\TONY\Start Menu\Programs)
3. When everything looks like you want it, it's time to cleanup a bit.
3.1 DELETE everything inside the folder: C:\Documents and Settings\TONY\Local Settings\Temp
3.2 DELETE the file: C:\Documents and Settings\TONY\Local Settings\Application Data\IconCache.db
3.3 DELETE everything inside the folder: C:\Documents and Settings\TONY\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
3.4 DELETE everything inside the folder: C:\Documents and Settings\TONY\Recent
3.5 DELETE everything inside the folder: C:\Documents and Settings\TONY\Cookies

4. Now, go to: C:\Documents and Settings\ and RENAME the folder "Default User" into "old default user". If you do not see the "Default User", go Tools > Folder Options > View > and mark "Show hidden files and folders".

5. When renamed, make sure that there is no password set on the user profile TONY you are currently using.

6. Make sure there is another ADMIN account on the computer, if not, create one, let's call it ADMIN. And then log off TONY and log back in as the ADMIN user.

7. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\ and RENAME the TONY folder into "Default User".

8. Create a new user account, a regular user account, let's call it ADRACO.
Logg off ADMIN and log back on as ADRACO. Now you should see your desktop and start menu just like you created/configured it tor TONY, but with the small difference that all new users you create on the machine, will get their desktop looking the same.

If you only need to change small things you can use the two folders:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
to add shortcuts and rearrange stuff. This will then complement the setting for each individual user for their desktop and start menu.
Example, say user 1 has file X on their own desktop and you also put file Y in
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
then user 1 will see both file X and file Y on his desktop, while user 2, will only see file Y on his desktop.


Why I know this by heart like that, you ask? I ran a support division with 12 people working for me a few years ago.

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The truth is not affected by the beliefs, or doubts, of the majority.