Topic: Forcing a default webpage for all computers

[Chris]

Is there a way to force a default webpage for all computers on my network?? (like the corporate webpage with news and company info for employees ) They are all in a workgroup behind a SME server running 6 final. The only thing i can think of is either
A. Go to everyone and set it.
B. Setup a domain and figure out how to do it within the domain. (i use to remember)

Any ideas would be great.

[jb]

For you win clients, use the registry.

Copy this text and save to a file with a .reg extension (for 2000 and xp)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Start Page"="http://www.thebennetthome.com"


Modify it to suite your needs, place it in a share that your users have access to, then in your login script call it using regedit /s filename.reg.

If you have win9x or I believe the top line needs to be changed from a 5 to a 4.  You can easily test this by opening regedit and exporting something.  The top line will show you the syntax

Also, if you have a mix of win9x and 2000/xp you will have to check for %OS% and then point the clients to the proper file for regedit to import.  

Here is a quick example:
@echo off
if "%OS%" =="Windows" goto windows
if "%OS%" =="Windows_NT" goto NT
goto regular
:windows
regedit /s win9xhomepage.reg
goto regular
:NT
regedit /s homepage.reg
:regular
rem this is the rest of your login script

My win2k and xp machines %OS% = Windows_NT, I don't have any win9x machines to check, but you should be able to go to a command prompt and type set and see what the OS variable is set to.

Hopefully, this give you a decent start.

Good Luck,

JB

[Chris]

Does this mean i have to go to computer to computer and merge this *.reg? Is there a automatic way to do this?

[jb]

No, do it with your login script per the previous example.  Within the login script have it execute regedit /s homepage.reg.  That way even if your users are changing their home page, when they logout and back in, it will default back to where you want it to go.

I used this method about 7 years ago, and it works fine.   I erks some users, but it will default to the homepage you set it.

JB