How do I apply this setting to All Users?

[laurshel]

Hi,

I am trying to set up a computer so that any user who logs in will have the following settings:

show hidden files, folders, or drives -- enabled
hide protected operating system files -- disabled
*In summary, all users should be able to see all hidden files, folders, drives and protected operating system files.

I know how to do this for a logged in user, but I want it to apply to everyone without having to touch every profile. Is this possible? The computer in question is Windows 7 32-bit.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ztruker]

How many users are you talking about? If it's only a few it would be quicker just to create the accounts then make the changes.

 

[laurshel]

It would be 40+ accounts.

 

[paul1149]

It sounds something like this. I don't know if there's a simple way to preset settings in the Default user account, but if you'd be satisfied with semi-automatic, you could use the Windows Migration tool to save the desire settings, then import them for each new (and I'm assuming you're referencing new accounts, and not existing accounts on a domain) account with a few clicks. If it's just basic settings the import would be fast, but it's still a workaround.

 

[Ztruker]

Maybe this will help: Customize the default local user profile when preparing an image of Windows

 

[Pyprohly]

I want it to apply to everyone without having to touch every profile. Is this possible?

That isn't possible; you're going to have to "touch" every profile.

To make things especially easy though, Laurshel, I've put together two scripts for you: one, VBScript, that will make appropriate registry changes to immediately show all hidden and system files; and the other will help you place this VBScript into the Startup folder of all user accounts.

A user's Startup folder can be found at "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup". Windows will automatically invoke all files in this folder during the user's logon.

The VBScript will delete itself after it's run.


ShowAllHiddenFiles.vbs

' Enable viewing of all hidden files in Explorer. I.e. under Folder Options,
'     Selects "Show hidden files, folders, and drives"
'     Unchecks "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)"
 
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Key = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced"
For Each I in Array("Hidden", "ShowSuperHidden")
    WshShell.RegWrite Key & "\" & I , 1, "REG_DWORD"
Next
 
WshShell.AppActivate("Program Manager")
WshShell.SendKeys("{F5}")
 
CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject").DeleteFile WScript.ScriptFullName

CopyFileToStartupFolder.bat

@echo off
REM Copies a given file to each local users' startup folders. 
 
if "%~1"=="" exit /b
if not exist "%~1" exit /b 1
 
for /f "delims=" %%I in (' dir /a:d-h /b "C:\Users" ') do (
    copy "%~1" "C:\Users\%%~I\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup"
)

Simply place both scripts on your desktop, and drop the VBScript file onto the Batch file to copy it to all users' Startup folders.

 

[Ztruker]

Why won't modifying the default local user profile work?
All additional profiles are created from it as far as I know.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Why won't modifying the default local user profile work?
All additional profiles are created from it as far as I know.

It is not totally clear from the posts, but I think that the OP wants to change 40+ existing profiles.

Pyprohly's solution handles that well.

There are scripts that can enumerate the users, load/change/unload all user hives... but they are complex.

 

[Ztruker]

True. I was thinking of new accounts.