Create a customized default user profile-Windows Xp Tips and Tricks-Windows Xp Tips and Tricks-

Create a customized default user profile

When you logon to Windows XP for the first time, Windows uses a template to store the information you have inputted to customize your Windows XP experience. However, if multiple users would like to have their own customized profile on the same machine, you would need to modify the default user profile to accommodate these new users.

Warning: Be careful when editing the default user profile. The change is permanent, so it is a good idea to make a backup copy of it so that it can easily be returned to its original configuration in the event something goes wrong.

How to create the customized default user profile:

Logon as Administrator, then create a local user account.

Note: Many of the files in the profile are hidden by default, you may need to turn on the option for showing hidden files and folders, here's how:

Go to Start>> My Computer>> Tools>> Folder Options.

Click the View tab

Under Advanced settings, click the Show Hidden files and folders option.

Click OK.

Logoff of the Administrator account, then log back on using the local account information that you've just created.

Note: Step #2 is important because if you change the default user profile while logged on as Administrator, you will cause permission issues.

Go to Start>> My Computer>> Local Drive (usually C:/) >> Documents and Settings>> Default User.

Modify the Template settings as you wish. This will make all new users share the same default settings.

Logoff the system, then log back on as Administrator.

You will now need to replace the current default user profile with the one that you have just created, here's how:

Go to Start>> Control Panel>> System>> Advanced tab

Under User Profiles, click the Settings button.

Under Profiles stored on this computer, click the profile that you've just created. Then, click the "Copy To" button.

In the "Copy To" window and under the "Copy profile to" option, click the Browse button.

In the "Browse doe Folder window, find your default user folder (C:\Documents and Settings\Default User folder) 

Click OK.

Back in the "Copy To" window and under the "Permitted to use" option, click the Change button.

In the resulting window, click Everyone and then click OK.

Note: If the "Everyone" option is not listed, choose the Advanced option, then click "Find Now". You should now see the Everyone option. Click OK.

Now, when a new user logs on to the computer, Windows XP will use the customized default user profile.

Note: This template folder can be copied to any Windows XP based machine.