The community group I do some volunteer work for is starting to get a bee in its bonnet about upgrading the XP pro computers to Vista, however we are still running a domain controller and file server with server 2000 on it.As I am having some trouble trying to get it through their heads that the server will need upgrading as well (both hardware and OS) I was wondering if it is possible to import the new Vista GPOs in to server 2000, in the likely event that I will have to deal with Vista lockdowns on a server 2k domain.Any pointers on this would be appreciated.Cheers.

Hi, Do you want to backup and import GPO? If so, you may consider to use GPMC. For more information, please refer to the following articles: ==================== GPO Operations http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/df3ff735-91ff-4cbf-9938-3b4af1d460cc1033.mspx?mfr=true How to create a Central Store for Group Policy Administrative Templates in Window Vista http://support.microsoft.com/?id=929841 In addition, Ive included some useful articles related to Group Policy in Windows Vista for your reference: ===================== What's New in Group Policy in Windows Vista http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/a8366c42-6373-48cd-9d11-2510580e48171033.mspx?mfr=true Group Policy Settings Reference Windows Vista http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=41dc179b-3328-4350-ade1-c0d9289f09ef&displaylang=en Group Policy Team Blog http://blogs.technet.com/grouppolicy/default.aspx Hope it helps. Sincerely, Joson Zhou Microsoft Online Community Support

Thanks for your reply Joson, that gives me a bit of reading to do.For what I want to do, it would be import the vista group policies in to server 2000 I suppose, so the new vista policies could be applied, but from what little I have read Vista now uses ADMX and ADML for its GPOs, so I would assume Server 2000 cannot import these.Suppose I will have to look through the Vista GPOs and compare them to what we have to see if there is any extra policys we really really need.Oh FYI I am not a trained Sysadmin, I just got landed with the job (volunteer) so I am really learning on the run here .

Hi, Please understand that ADMX files will be ignored on earlier operating systems (Pre-Windows Vista operating systems). In addition, Ive listed some key points for your reference: ====================================== In order to be able to create and edit domain-based GPOs with the latest Group Policy settings using ADMX files, you must have the following setup: A working domain (Windows Server 2003 operating systems, Windows 2000, or Windows Server "Longhorn") using name resolution through a Domain Name System (DNS) server. A computer running Windows Vista to view policy settings from ADMX files while editing the domain-based GPO To edit GPOs using centrally stored ADMX files, please complete the following tasks in order: 1. Create a central store. For the detailed steps to create central store, please refer to the KB article 929841 (http://support.microsoft.com/?id=929841). 2. Populate the central store with ADMX files. Note that this should be done immediately after step 1 because all Windows Vista administrative computers will start using the central store as soon as the directory is created. 3. Edit the Administrative Template policy settings in the domain-based GPOs. To edit administrative template policy settings using ADMX files: You must perform this procedure on a Windows Vistabased computer. You will only be able to display new Windows Vistabased policy settings with Group Policy tools using ADMX files on a Windows Vistabased computer. 1. To open the Group Policy Management Console, click Start, click Run, and then type GPMC.msc. 2. To create a new GPO to edit, right-click the Group Policy Objects node, and then select New. 3. Type a name for the GPO and click OK. 4. Expand the Group Policy Objects node. 5. Right-click the name of the GPO you created, and click Edit. 6. The Group Policy object Editor will automatically read all ADMX files stored in the central store. When there is no central store, the Group Policy object Editor will read the local versions of the ADMX files used by the local GPO on your Windows Vista administrative computer. Hope it helps. Sincerely, Joson Zhou Microsoft Online Community Support

Cool thanks Joson, looks like even more reading for me but that looks like what I am after. Thanks a lot.