Enable File and Printer Sharing via Group Policy or Registry

I really need this enabled on all of the computers on my network. Unfortunately they weren't enabled durring the initial setup process and now they are spread out across 5 branches in three cities, and I really don't want to have to remote to each one and enable it manually.

I couldnt figure out a group policy setting that would enable this specific check box, I enabled the firewall rule that allows it to work once this box is checked, however. I've also been trying for several hours to find a registry value I can enable this with or something. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Are you on a Windows Domain ??

I am. Running Server 2008 R2.

And I will I was thinking about a tool like that, but wasnt sure what was a good one. I will give that a shot.

I found one article on TechNet about local policy to turn in on or off, but I don't find any parallel in Domain policy, nor do I find any reference to it on Microsoft's website.

A Registry setting is probably your best bet. I'll see if I can find any articles on that.

pricetech said:

I found one article on TechNet about local policy to turn in on or off, but I don't find any parallel in Domain policy, nor do I find any reference to it on Microsoft's website.

A Registry setting is probably your best bet. I'll see if I can find any articles on that.

I tried that tool, and it showed some registry settings being deleted, but they were not re-created when I enabled it again, which makes me think they were unrelated. And then a bunch of gibberish in hex values or something. Nothing applicable to solve this problem, at least that I can tell. Maybe if you can find it though. Thanks.

Sorry, struck out. I find plenty of references to turning on or off the Firewall for File and Printer Sharing, but nothing about turning the setting itself on or off.

This should be doable remotely without having to log in to each workstation one at a time. I'll keep looking. This one has me intrigued.

Joe

Here is what I get, first one shows a setting that may work through Group Policy, second one shows all the related Group Policy network sharing settings. :)

Enable or disable File Sharing with Group Policy

Network and Sharing Center Group Policy Settings