Inside Windows Server 1002003 [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Chapter 19. Managing the User Operating Environment

T

HE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE W

INDOWS S

ERVER 2003 and XP operating environment is the new look-and-feel. Like a shape-changer in X Files, the Explorer shell has morphed into a lively but orderly place. The default desktop is clean except for the Recycle Bin. The Start menu has gained weight but the contents are more highly structured. The icons have changed from the silly-looking caricatures in Windows 2000 to attractive, modern graphics. Best yet, the entire interface can be replaced faster than Madonna changes singing styles.

You may find the new shell somewhat irritating because familiar items are in new places. If the new interface has no benefit for you, you can change it back to the classic interface with no loss of functionality.

The important changes run deeper than the glitzy façade of the new shell. There are new ways of handling executables and DLLs, new application migration and compatibility options, and a host of new terminal services features. Rather than spend a lot of time on the interface, this chapter covers elements of the operating environment that affect administration. The topics include the following:

• Side-by-Side assemblies




• User state migration




• Application compatibility




• Folder redirection and home directories




• Offline files




• Remote Desktop operations, including Remote Assistance

Classic Look and Help Files

The online Help utility, now called the Help and Support Center