How to establish a common Favorites folder with Windows NT

This article describes how to establish and maintain a common Favorites folder for all users who are using Windows NT in a Windows NT networking environment (that is, a Windows NT domain or workgroup).

The information that is contained in this article is provided "as is." The configuration that is described in this article is not supported by Microsoft

For various reasons (such as centralized administration, consistency, control of the Favorites folder across the networking environment, and so on), you may want to have a single Favorites folder on a common server that all users in the networking environment access for their favorite files and links. For example, a common Favorites folder allows a network administrator set up and maintain a common share point of Internet Explorer Internet links and Microsoft Office files that all users can have access to at all times.

Currently, however, there is no user interface for configuring this in Windows NT. Instead, you must manually edit the registry to accomplish this. To configure Windows NT with a common Favorites folder, proceed with the following steps.

On the Server

1. Create a new directory to serve as the common Favorites folder, or select an existing directory.
2. Share the directory with the appropriate share permissions.
3. If applicable, set the file and directory permissions appropriate to the level of security desired.

On the Client Systems

NOTE: The steps in this section involve editing the registry.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

1. Run Regedt32.exe.
2. Navigate to the following location:
   
   Select the Favorites value in the following registry path:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer \User Shell Folders
3. Click to select the Favorites value.
4. On the Edit menu, click String.
5. Change the current path to reflect the UNC path (for example, \\CommonServer\FavShare) or mapped drive (for example F:\Favorites) of the new server share for the common Favorites folder.
6. Start Internet Explorer.
7. On the Favorites menu, click Organize Favorites, and then verify that the new location was saved properly.