Using AutoIt to edit/change settings in gpedit.msc

[GTFK]

I have 40 laptops that are not part of a domain and I need an easy way to change the gpedit.msc settings to lock down the desktop and screen savers on each laptop. I haven't seen any short cuts for these settings. All of them are set through mouse clicks or system of tabs, arrow keys and enters. The problem is every time and way I've done it, the script always freezes when navigating the Administrative Templates folder. I'm really new to scripting so any advanced help would be appreciated.

[dantay9]

Try looking into MouseClick() and ControlClick() in the help file. I'm not experienced, but I think this should do the trick.

[bo8ster]

Couple of suggestions

Run("gpedit.msc") to open the window

Then you can use MouseMove(x, y) and MouseClick("left") for the nav.

Use the Info Window to get the mouse coords.

You can also use control handles as suggested by dantay9 but there is not much to grab there.

Lastly post up what you have

[bo8ster]

Maybe something like this

ShellExecute("gpedit.msc")

WinWaitActive("Group Policy")
Global $appHandle = WinGetHandle("Group Policy")
MouseMove(117, 297)
MouseClick("left")
; and so on
WinClose($appHandle)

[Lattis2003]

In a nutshell.

The changes made with gpedit are saved to registry.pol files in System32\GroupPolicy\User and \Machine folders.

Make the changes you want on a test laptop and copy over the registry.pol files to the laptops to be locked down.

Deny permissions for the Administrators group to the \User and \Machine folders so the policies don't apply

to admins logging in.

Run gpupdate /force to apply the policies to the computers.

Hope this helps.

[weaponx]

Gpedit.msc is basically just a frontend for a bunch of registry settings. If you run RegShot before you make a change you can easily find the registry locations.

[GTFK]

I'm going to try all you suggestions today. Thanks for the help.

[AzKay]

Gpedit.msc is basically just a frontend for a bunch of registry settings. If you run RegShot before you make a change you can easily find the registry locations.

or Regmon

[AutoITMissouri]

Maybe something like this

ShellExecute("gpedit.msc")

WinWaitActive("Group Policy")
Global $appHandle = WinGetHandle("Group Policy")
MouseMove(117, 297)
MouseClick("left")
; and so on
WinClose($appHandle)

Can you please tell me how to get MouseMove(x,y), x and y coordinates?

Thanks

[DW1]

Can you please tell me how to get MouseMove(x,y), x and y coordinates?

Thanks

Holy year and a half old thread, Batman!

Instead of using the coordinate route, I suggest you edit the registry directly. Use ProcMon to determine the proper key. ProcMon now includes all the functionality of both FileMon and RegMon.

[Juvigy]

This is all not good practice.

If you have 40 PC's (or more) just put them in a AD group and do a policy on that group.

It is all easier then doing it locally on all PC's.That way if you need to change you will have to do a 1 min policy change

on the AD and it will be updated on all pcs.

[bo8ster]

Can you please tell me how to get MouseMove(x,y), x and y coordinates?

Thanks

You can get them from the mouse section in the autoit info tool. See also MouseGetPos() and MouseCoordMode (Option) in the help file.