Introduction to Group Policy
Group Policy is a feature in Windows that helps administrators manage and configure settings for users and computers within an organisation.
In this guide, we will be applying a GPO that forces a desktop background
Prerequisites
- Active Directory Domain Controller
- Domain Admin privileges
- Basic knowledge of Windows
Creating Your First GPO
-
Open Group Policy Management
Access the Group Policy Management Console using one of these methods:
Run (win+R)gpmc.msc
Forcing a desktop wallpaper:
-
1. Create a Shared Folder
Create a folder on your Domain Controller to store the wallpaper image
Example path:
C:\Wallpapers\company-wallpaper.jpg -
2. Configure GPO Settings
Navigate to: User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Desktop > Desktop
Enable "Desktop Wallpaper" and set the path:
\\server\share\wallpaper.jpg -
3. Apply and Test
Link the GPO to an OU containing your test users
On client PC, run:
gpupdate /forceto test
Best Practices
- Always test GPOs on a small group first
- Use descriptive names for your policies
- Document your GPO configurations
- Regular review of applied policies