How can I control the Policy updates?

John Savill

March 4, 1999

1 Min Read
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A. Its possible to dictate how policies are applied to a Windows NTmachine.

This is normally configured using the System Policy Editor by selectingDefault Computer - Network - System policies update and checking Remote Update.

You then have the option to have either Automatic update which means the NTclient makes a connection to the NETLOGON share of the domain controller thatvalidated the logon or alternatively you could select Manual and then enter apath and name where the policy is located.

It is also possible to configure the machine to display any error messagesand to enable load balancing.

Click here to view image

All the changes above can also be configured directly through the registry.

  1. Start the registry editor (regedit.exe)

  2. Move to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlUpdate

  3. Double click on UpdateMode (if it does not exist create of type DWORD, Edit- New - DWORD value)

  4. Set to 1 for Automatic update (the default), 2 for Manual or 0 for noupdate. Click OK

  5. If you set UpdateMode to 2 you should then double click on NetworkPath (orcreate of type REG_SZ or String Value)

  6. Set to the location and name of the policy file to use. Click OK

  7. Close the registry editor

You can also create two other values underHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlUpdate

  • Verbose - of type DWORD value - and setting to 1 enables error messages

  • LoadBalence - of type DWORD value - setting to 1 enables load balancing

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