What is Windows Group Policy Editor (GPEDIT.MSC)? And how to use GPEDIT.MSC

            This post describes how to use the Group Policy Editor to change local policy settings for the computer and users of the computer.

Uses of Group Policy

In Microsoft Windows 7, you use Group Policy to define user and computer configurations for groups of users and computers. You create a specific desktop configuration for a particular group of users and computers by using the Group Policy Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in. The Group Policy settings that you create are contained in a Group Policy Object (GPO), which is in turn associated with selected Active Directory containers, such as sites, domains, or organizational units (OUs). With the Group Policy snap-in you can specify policy settings for the following:

Registry-based policies.
These include Group Policy for the Windows XP operating system and its components and for programs. To manage these settings, use the Administrative Templates node of the Group Policy snap-in.

 Security options.
These include options for local computer, domain, and network security settings.

 Software installation and maintenance options.
These are used to centrally manage program installation, updates, and removal.

 Scripts options.
These include scripts for computer startup and shutdown, and user logon and logoff.

Folder redirection options.
These allow administrators to redirect user’s special folders to the network.

To Open Group Policy:

In two ways you can open Windows Group Policy As given below

1.     Start > run > type “ gpedit.msc”  > Ok (Shortcut key for Run :Windows)

                                                                          OR

2.    Go to  C:\WINDOWS\system32 and find the gpedit.msc file and double click it to open.