Sunday, July 14, 2013

Changing Home Page for Internet Explorer 10 through Group Policy

Changing Home Page for Internet Explorer in the past was simply a matter of modifying the Internet Explorer Maintenance settings under User Configuration --> Windows Settings as shown in the following screenshot.


However in Internet Explorer 10 all configuration options under the Internet Explorer Maintenance section no longer effect the new web browser. Microsoft has published an article entitled Replacements for Internet Explorer Maintenance which can be found on the following URL link provided below.  This TechNet article explains the alternative policy configuration setting for each of the Internet Explorer Maintenance policies applicable for Internet Explorer 10.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj890998.aspx

For changing the home page Microsoft recommends using the Internet Settings policy settings which can be found under Group Policy Preferences for User Configuration.  This presents a problem however if you're running Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) on Window 2008 R2, Windows 7 or any previous operating systems.  The problem with these operating systems is Group Policy Management Console does not support Internet Explorer 10 group policy configuration.

The following screenshot was taken on a 2008 R2 domain controller in Group Policy Management Console.


To configure Internet Explorer 10 you must run Group Policy Management Console on either Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.  Only then will the correct configuration options be available.


Simply configure the home page for Internet Explorer 10 along with any other options you want configured.

 
IMPORTANT: Before clicking OK make sure you press "F6" on the Home Page dialog box to ensure it goes green in colour.  If it has a read dot below it, the policy setting will not apply.
 
The screenshot below shows the green line after pressing F6 to confirm the data.
 
 
I hope this post has been of value to you.
 
Also I would like to note, it is also possible to configure the home page using the Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK).  This requires deploying the configuration changes to workstations in MSI format.
 

29 comments:

  1. How do you access the IE10 GPP if you don't have a Windows 8/2012 system available?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have to update your Active Directory-Schema - if you'll google for adprep you may find some good tutorials

      Delete
    2. No you don't, you have to use Win8/Win2012. You can't use anything earlier

      Delete
  2. Don't think that's possible.

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  3. Would be worth seeing if installing IE10 on Server 2008R2 would solve this?

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  4. It's not IE that needs updating its group policy management console which needs upgrading to support the required functionality.

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    Replies
    1. It`s prefectly possible, need to install an template on your DC

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  5. Banged my head on this for a while. The "F6" tip was exactly what I needed. Thanks for the post

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    Replies
    1. YES - same here ... bang bang bang ... knock on wood

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  6. "F6" Thanks for that

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  7. From what I have been reading you can edit the InternetSettings.xml from within the policy so it applies to IE10 under Windows 7, though it still shows from the 'New' menu as IE8

    Editing the xml: type="VERSION" gte="1" min="8.0.0.0" max="11.1.0.0"

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  8. Fucking F6. Thanks very very much.

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    Replies
    1. had the same issue.....the fucking F6.

      @ Clint:Thanks you!!!

      Delete
  9. You can actually press F5 to F8, all with different values. For more information on these values please refer to the following TechNet blog post:

    http://blogs.technet.com/b/grouppolicy/archive/2008/10/13/red-green-gp-preferences-doesn-t-work-even-though-the-policy-applied-and-after-gpupdate-force.aspx

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would like to give Clear zero stars but, as all yelpers know, that isn't possible. My Blog

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  11. Hi I searched all over the best way to update from IE8 and up is through the registry it works 100% se link for example
    http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/373560-ie10-homepage-group-policy-server-2008-quick-fix

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you It is working fine, just the trick is to use any Windows 8 or 2012 Server to implement this GPO.
    Cheers

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  13. The "F6" tip was exactly what I needed. Many many thanks!!!

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  14. F6 - Thank you!!!!!

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  15. But this still doesn't lock the home page!! Why doesn't MS move all settings to GPP!!!

    To lock the home page you still have to use the Policy settings under User Conf -> Policies -> Admin Templates -> Windows Components -> Internet Explorer -> Disable changing the homepage and set homepage there to lock it. MS should update GPP to allow locking of configuration and update the explanation for that old setting to apply only up to IE 9... ERRR

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  16. Shame that IE 11 is not as manageable via GPOs, you'd think that things would be improving for business

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  17. Thank you so much! Didn't know about F6 either....awesome

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  18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HamESwoDpQ Video Tutorial

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  19. Great tip, was pulling my hair out! F6, who knew?

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  20. +1 for F6 - thanks Clint :) I had it all right except the damn red line!

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  21. I really like this great stuff. Keep me more updates.
    upgrade from ie8 to ie11

    ReplyDelete