Here is a group ofresources for you on Vista and group policies andthe new ADMX structure. ------------------------------------------ Windows Vista Security Guide Brief Description The Windows Vista Security Guide provides recommendations and tools to further harden Windows Vista. Use the GPOAccelerator tool in this Solution Accelerator to efficiently establish the Enterprise Client (EC) environment or the Specialized Security Limited Functionality (SSLF) environment. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a3d1bbed-7f35-4e72-bfb5-b84a526c1565&DisplayLang=en Deploying Group Policy Using Windows Vista Some situations require an understanding of how ADMX files are structured and the location where they are stored. The Group Policy tools included with Windows Vista or Windows Server "Longhorn" will recognize both ADMX and ADM files. The Group Policy tools included with Windows Server 2003 and earlier versions of Windows will recognize only ADM files. Unlike ADM files, ADMX files are not stored in individual GPOs. For domain-based enterprises, you can optionally create a central store location of ADMX files that is accessible to anyone with permission to create or edit GPOs. Group Policy tools will continue to recognize custom ADM files associated with existing GPOs, but will ignore any ADM file that has been superseded by ADMX files: System.adm, Inetres.adm, Conf.adm, Wmplayer.adm, and Wuau.adm. Group Policy Object Editor automatically reads and displays Administrative Template policy settings based on ADMX files that are stored either locally or in the optional ADMX central store. Group Policy Object Editor will automatically display Administrative Template policy settings defined in custom ADM files stored in the GPO. You can still add or remove custom ADM files to a GPO with the Add/Remove template menu option. All Group Policy settings currently in ADM files delivered by Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 will also be available in Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn" ADMX files. http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/5ae8da2a-878e-48db-a3c1-4be6ac7cf7631033.mspx?mfr=true ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Group Policy Settings Reference Windows Vista Brief Description This spreadsheet lists the policy settings for computer and user configurations included in the administrative template files (admx/adml) delivered with Windows Vista (RTM build 6000). http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=41dc179b-3328-4350-ade1-c0d9289f09ef&DisplayLang=en ---------------------------------------------------- Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Multiple Local Group Policy Objects http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/9c7ecc7d-8784-4b8d-ba1f-ba1882ba83741033.mspx?mfr=true ------------------------------------------------- ADMX Technology Review Administrative Template files contain markup language that is used to describe registry-based Group Policy. First released in Windows NT 4, Administrative Template files used a unique file format known as ADM files. In Windows Vista, these files are replaced by an XML-based file format known as ADMX files. These new Administrative Template files make it easier to manage registry-based policy settings in WindowsVista and WindowsServer "Longhorn". In WindowsVista, ADMX files are divided into language-neutral (.admx files) and language-specific resources (.adml files), available to all Group Policy administrators. These factors allow Group Policy tools to adjust their UI according to the administrator's configured language. Adding a new language to a set of policy definitions is achieved by ensuring that the language-specific resource file is available. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/library/ef346453-eee8-4abe-ba6c-2160fee3be46.mspx -------------------------------------- Managing Group Policy ADMX Files Step-by-Step Guide http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/library/02633470-396c-4e34-971a-0c5b090dc4fd.mspx ---------------------------------------- ADMX Migrator Brief Description The ADMX Migrator is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that simplifies the process of converting your existing Group Policy ADM Templates to the new ADMX format and provides a graphical user interface for creating and editing Administrative Templates. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0F1EEC3D-10C4-4B5F-9625-97C2F731090C&displaylang=en-------------