Windows 10/11 default desktop

[Dougarooo]

Hello,

 

I'm trying to figure out a way to create a default desktop for any user that logs into a machine.

 

I have created a custom image over a PXE boot so that any user on my network can baseline their machine with programs that is commonly used throughout the office. When they baseline they simply change the computer's name and then join the domain.

 

Only issue is that I wish to have the machine create their desktop upon signing into the machine with their domain account with all the shortcuts to relevant programs and .exe's available on their desktop, so they can easily get back to whatever they need to do without having to recreate their desktop every time they sign into the machine.

 

I understand that I can make the domain user have their desktop be stored in network storage but this isn't doable so I'm looking for this alternative.

 

Can Windows have a 'default' desktop that it gives every user upon signing into the machine?

 

I can't seem to google the correct set of words to find this specific feature so I'm hoping someone on here knows. Thanks in advance!

[Electronics Wizardy]

So this is a office setup with lots of systems? 

 

Are these systems on active directory or another management system?

 

You can use redirected users folders so that the files are all stored on a server, and the same no matter the computer that is used. Why isn't this doable in your enviroment.

 

You can have scripts that run upon login to do many things.

 

You can also add items to the default use to show on all users desktops.

[Dougarooo]

7 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

So this is a office setup with lots of systems? 

 

Are these systems on active directory or another management system?

 

You can use redirected users folders so that the files are all stored on a server, and the same no matter the computer that is used. Why isn't this doable in your enviroment.

 

You can have scripts that run upon login to do many things.

 

You can also add items to the default use to show on all users desktops.

Yes they are all on an AD environment.

 

This isn't doable as these users have multiple machines for different purposes and can't share the same desktop as they'd interfere with other machines.

 

That last one, "You can also add items to the default use to show on all users desktops." is what I'm looking for. I thought maybe just creating a 'Default' folder in the windows/users folder but I wasn't sure if that'd work

[Electronics Wizardy]

2 minutes ago, Dougarooo said:

Yes they are all on an AD environment.

 

This isn't doable as these users have multiple machines for different purposes and can't share the same desktop as they'd interfere with other machines.

 

That last one, "You can also add items to the default use to show on all users desktops." is what I'm looking for. I thought maybe just creating a 'Default' folder in the windows/users folder but I wasn't sure if that'd work

Use the C:\Users\Public\Desktop folder for putting things for all users to use.

 

 

[Dougarooo]

12 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Use the C:\Users\Public\Desktop folder for putting things for all users to use.

 

 

Ah, yeah I thought it'd have to be default or something. Thank you!

[manikyath]

18 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Use the C:\Users\Public\Desktop folder for putting things for all users to use.

 

 

this.

 

besides that there's also C:\users\Default, which is hidden (as it should be..) and essentially the "template" windows copies from to create the local folder structure for AD users that log onto the computer for the first time.

 

the separation between is as follows:

- Public is essentially folders that are "overlaid" onto the user's own folders, so shortcuts that are on public\desktop will appear on the user's desktop. these files are read-only to the user as well, so they cannot be changed.

- Default is "copied" to the user's folder structure on creation, and from then on is 'owned' by the user, so they can edit, delete, modify, etc. if you want to, for example, add a folder with some files to user\documents to set up the userspace for a piece of business software, this is the place to do that.

 

i do need to add that you have to be careful with Default, if you break that, no one will be able to log onto the system that does not already have a folder in C:\Users.