A cool new feature in Windows Server 2008 are the User Preferences. With this user preferences you’re able to create a lot of things, such as:
– Drive Maps
– Environment variables
– Files
– Folders
– Ini files
– Registry keys
– Shortcuts
In my testenvironment I’ve build a custom start menu for the user in my environment. You can do this by using the User Preferences. When you’re using Item-Level targeting, you can manage what users are getting some shortcuts. In this example I’m using Item-Level targeting with Security Groups, so when a user is member of a specific security group, he’ll receive the shortcut in his start menu.
1.) First make a new Group Polciy
2.) Go to User Configuration, Preferences, Windows Settings, Shortcuts
3.) Create a new shortcut
4.) Fill in the right path’s **picture 3**
5.) Go to the Common tab
6.) Enable “Remove this item when it is no longer applied” (note: this will change the “Action” to Replace)
7.) Enable “Item-level targeting” and click “Targeting”
8.) Select the way off targeting (note: in this example I’m using Security Group)
9.) Make the right users members of the security group
10.) Logon to your workstation and check your start menu
As you can see, based on the group membership, User01 get’s his shorcuts to the different applications. This can also be configured on the other User Preferences.