An integer part of the evolution from Windows XP to Windows Vista is associated with the enhancements delivered to Group Policy. Users have to understand that the modifications have resulted in the addition of new options via the new Group Policy settings delivered on top of the improvements introduced to the Group Policy infrastructure. Microsoft, via MSDN is offering a collection of resources focused on its latest Windows client. And in this context, users will be able to access a detailed description of the Group policy in Windows Vista.

"Group Policy provides an infrastructure for the centralized configuration and management of policy settings that are targeted to specific groups of users and computers. A Group Policy object (GPO) is a virtual collection of policy settings that control such things as network access, power management, and device installation. A GPO can be locally based or linked to an Active Directory container," Microsoft revealed.

There are two tools included by default into Windows Vista designed to permit users to both access, manage and edit group policies. The Group Policy Management Console and Group Policy Object Editor are both delivered as Microsoft Management Console snap-ins. The patch to Group Policy Object Editor, and at the same time the way to edit a GPO is via the Search Box under the Start Menu.

All you have to do is enter gpedit.msc in order to open up Group Policy Object Editor. The path to Group Policy Management Console involves opening the Microsoft Management Console, by entering mmc in the Start Menu's Search Box and adding a new snap-in.

"The Group Policy infrastructure consists of a Group Policy engine and individual components known as client-side extensions that apply the policy settings. The most extensive client-side extension is the Administrative Templates extension, which stores policy settings in the registry and uses ADMX files for presentation. The new ADMX files are an XML replacement for the ADM files available in previous versions of Windows," Microsoft added.