Utilizing Active Setup for user profile customization

Présentation

Active Setup is a powerful mechanism in Windows designed for implementing custom configurations within each user’s profile.

Its primary function is to ensure that specific scripts or settings are executed for every user logging onto a computer. This feature is particularly beneficial when setting up new machines or when users are logging in for the first time, ensuring a consistent and tailored experience for both new and existing users

ActiveSetup Example

Setting up the Registry: To implement Active Setup, you’ll need to create specific registry keys:

• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\[Your Unique ID].
• Create a new String Value named StubPath and input the command or script you wish to run.
• Add another String Value named Version and set a version number (e.g., « 1 »).

Example

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{04BBA840-0D52-01CF-0AFA-00AA00B6015C}]
 “StubPath”=”cmd /c C:\\Windows\\screensaver.bat”
 “Version”=”1,0,0,0?
 “IsInstalled”=dword:00000001
 “ComponentID”=”ScreenSaver”
 @=”ScreenSaver”

GUID Generator:  Online guid generator

For User

In this example, each user will run the C:\Windows\screensaver.bat command just once.

A registry key (of flag) will be placed in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components

If the user key exists, Active Setup will no longer be played for the user.

ActiveSetup Example

In this example, I’m going to run a batch to modify the screen saver for each user.

• Install.bat (Script parent)

This is the batch that will be run (by SCCM, KACE, or manually) on the computers to set up the activesetup.

copy “%~dp0screensaver.bat” c:\windows\screensaver.bat /Y
regedit /s “%~dp0activeSetup.reg”

• ActiveSetup.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{04BBA840-0D52-01CF-0AFA-00AA00B6015C}]
 “StubPath”=”cmd /c C:\\Windows\\screensaver.bat”
 “Version”=”1,0,0,0?
 “IsInstalled”=dword:00000001
 “ComponentID”=”ScreenSaver”
 @=”ScreenSaver”

ScreenSave.bat (Launches ActiveSetup on login)

This file will be executed when users log on.

reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v ScreenSaveActive /t REG_SZ /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v ScreenSaveTimeOut /t REG_SZ /d 599940 /f
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v ScreenSaverIsSecure /t REG_SZ /d 0 /f

Example : download