Microsoft® Windows® Desktop Deployment Resource Kit

Best Practices

The following are best practices for planning preferred Windows XP Professional configurations:

• Review the Windows XP Professional deployment white papers. Microsoft publishes two Windows XP Professional deployment white papers that are essential reading before you start planning your project. To review them, see http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/default.mspx. The first white paper is "Deploying Windows XP Part I: Planning"; the second is "Deploying Windows XP Part II: Implementing."

• Separate managed settings from unmanaged settings. For each setting in your preferred configuration, decide whether it’s a managed setting or not. Use policies to enforce managed settings.

• Plan to put users in the appropriate ...