Same programs and settings for each user regardless of PC on domain

[lulzc]

I have several users on my domain, managed with Active Directory. How can I ensure that every user, regardless of what PC they sign into, has the exact same programs and settings for these programs?

I don’t want to go to every computer, and install and configure software for each person that signs into that PC. Sometimes our users don’t always use the same PC either, so if for some reason I configured a user account on one PC earlier in the day if they log into a different computer I’ll have to do it all over again.

I need each PC to have programs, with certain settings for those programs, to be installed under any user account that may sign into that computer. For e.g., if I were to sit down at a computer that I have never signed into before - once I login Firefox is already installed with certain preferences.

Any help?

 

[GokAy]

In short: I guess you need a combination of roaming profile (for settings and data) and group policy to install the programs. And perhaps folder redirection.

 

[LMiller7]

I believe this would be done with group policy to install the software and a mandatory user profile. I haven't done anything like that for a long time and not with a modern OS.

What OS is the domain running on?

 

[lulzc]

In short: I guess you need a combination of roaming profile (for settings and data) and group policy to install the programs. And perhaps folder redirection.

I'll look into this. It seems like some sort of imaging software may be another help to look at.

I believe this would be done with group policy to install the software and a mandatory user profile. I haven't done anything like that for a long time and not with a modern OS.

What OS is the domain running on?

I can manage Group Policy to install the software. The trouble arises when configuring each and every setting on each application for each user on each PC. I'm using Windows Server 2012 - and the client machines are Windows 7 Professional 64bit.

 

[GokAy]

I believe the configuration depends on where the configuration is stored. I would just try like this:
- Make a test account
- Create GPO that install one program.
- Log in with test, let it install
- Configure the program
- Setup a roaming profile (need a file server to hold the profiles)
- If same PC, Uninstall the program, and login again
- See if it works
- If it does, change a setting or two and login from another PC

etc

I haven't done this kind of thing for more than 10 years, Server 2000 and XP

 

[lulzc]

I believe the configuration depends on where the configuration is stored. I would just try like this:
- Make a test account
- Create GPO that install one program.
- Log in with test, let it install
- Configure the program
- Setup a roaming profile (need a file server to hold the profiles)
- If same PC, Uninstall the program, and login again
- See if it works
- If it does, change a setting or two and login from another PC

etc

I haven't done this kind of thing for more than 10 years, Server 2000 and XP

I will work on this. I believe I do have it working with a roaming profile. The only gripe that I have with distributing software via GPOs is that they have to be in .msi format, which nearly NO installers are anymore.

 

[GokAy]

I remember there were software that created msi from exe files, maybe you can find such?

See https://social.technet.microsoft.co...f0f866d3/converting-exe-to-msi-for-deployment they talk about some possible methods