14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft Management Console 3.0 will put the Windows Vista network at your fingertips allowing you to seamlessly achieve an unprecedented level of control over the operating system. In this context, Group Policies are the key to the advanced management of Windows Vista network connections. The Microsoft Management Console 3.0 is an alternative to problematic tweaking tools and laborious registry modifications that can generate system instability. The fact of the matter is that the console, survived from Windows XP, is one of the management tools little exposed to end users of Windows Vista.
Group Policies as a whole are designed for advanced users and that is why the Group Policy editor is not immediately accessible. "Group Policy Object Editor is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that provides a single user interface through which all the settings of a single Group Policy object can be managed. Microsoft Management Console (MMC) hosts administrative tools that you can use to administer networks, computers, services, and other system components," Microsoft revealed.
In order to open the Group Policy editor enter "gpedit.msc" in the search box under the Start Menu, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter in order to launch the snap-in with elevated privileges. You will need administrative privileges in order to apply changes via the Group Policy Object Editor. The tool will provide access to Computer Configuration and to User Configuration. Under both Policies you will find Administrative Templates. Opening the Administrative Templates in either Computer or User Configuration will take you to the Network Group Policies.
Under Computer Configuration you will be able to manage the policies for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, DNS Client, Link-Layer Topology Discovery, Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Networking Service, network Connections, Offline Files, QoS Packet Scheduler, SNMP, SSL Configuration Settings and Windows Connect Now. For example, through enabling the default policies in Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Networking you will be able to turn off the service. User Connection will enable you to change the policies associated with Network Connections, Offline Files and Windows Connect Now.
The actual group policy edits are no problem whatsoever. For example you simply need to double click a certain policy and set its status from Not Configured to either Enabled or Disabled. Applying the changes can require a reboot, or at least the restart of Windows Explorer.