How To: Export local Group Policy settings made in gpedit.msc

This is a good solution on how you can “export” the Group Policy and Security settings you made in on a machine with the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) to other machines pretty easy:

Normal settings can be copied like this:

1.) Open %systemroot%\system32\grouppolicy\

Within this folder, there are two folders - “machine” and “user”. Copy these to folders to the “%systemroot%\system32\grouppolicy - folder on the target machine. All it needs now is a reboot or a “gpupdate /force”.

Note: If you cannot see the “grouppolicy” folder on either the source or the target machine, be sure to have your explorer folder options set to “Show hidden files and folders”…

For security settings:

1.) Open MMC and add the Snapin “Security Templates”.

2.) Create your own customized template and save it as an “*inf” file.

3.) Copy the file to the target machine and import it via command line tool “secedit”:

secedit /configure /db %temp%\temp.sdb /cfg yourcreated.inf

Further information on secedit can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/secedit_cmds.mspx?mfr=true

If you’re building custom installations, you can pretty easy script the “overwriting” of the “machine”/”user”-folders or the import via secedit by copying these file to a share and copy and execute them with a script.