If you have Active Directory then you don't need Secpol because you can
use the GPMC (Group Policy Management Console) on the domain controller. However, if you are
checking or configuring security settings on a Windows 8 computer in a Workgroup or HomeGroup then
you need the Local Security Editor - secpol.msc.
When you want change a security setting this is how you launch the Local
Security
Policy Editor.
Click on the Start orb, and in the search dialog box type:
secpol.msc Note: Remember to type the .msc file
extension, otherwise Windows 8 can't find the snap-in.
When secpol.msc appears in the search results, consider creating a shortcut by
right-clicking and choosing either 'Pin to Taskbar', or 'Pin to Start
Menu'.
Navigating through the security settings is as easy as finding
files and folders with Windows Explorer.
Types of Group Policy Settings
To get a feel of this snap-in, the most interesting policies are under
the Security folder - see screenshot.
However there are also policies for other aspects of security, for
example: passwords, networks, auditing, and settings the Windows Firewall.
A common problem is that even though you type precisely secpol.msc, Windows 8
cannot find secpol.msc. The most likely cause is that you have the
Home Premium edition. It's most disappointing that you only get
secpol.msc in the Ultimate, Professional (old Business) and Enterprise editions, and not in the
Windows 8
Home Premium or Basic editions.
Another common problem is that you forget to type the .msc file extension.
Windows 8 cannot find secpol unless you append the .msc file extension.
Other your problem launching the group policy editor could be a plain typo,
you type seckpl.mcs or some other anagram of secpol.msc. Another
troubleshooting technique is to try typing 'gpedit.msc' and use the 'big
brother'.
Recommended: Solarwinds' Permissions Analyzer - Free Active Directory Tool
I like the
Permissions Monitor because it enables me to see WHO has permissions
to do WHAT at a glance. When you launch this tool it analyzes a users effective NTFS
permissions for a specific file or folder, and takes into account network share
access, then displays the results in a nifty desktop dashboard!
Think of all the frustration that this free SolarWinds utility saves when you are
troubleshooting authorization problems for user's access to a resource.
Windows 8 Group Policies, created by secpol.msc are stored in a special
hidden folder %SystemRoot%\System32\GroupPolicy\
Actually there are two sub-folders where you will find the registry.pol
files: ..\GroupPolicy\Machine and ...\GroupPolicy\User. The names
of these files remind us that virtually all group policy settings affect
settings in the registry.
Incidentally, the environment variable %SystemRoot% usually translates to
C:\Windows.
»
Summary of Windows 8 Secpol.msc - Local Group Policy Editor
Microsoft supplies a Local Policy
Editor so that you can change security settings without resorting to regedit.
If you are already familiar with gpedit.msc or GPMC, then secpol.msc is a
subset.
If you are troubleshooting why secpol.msc does not seem to exist in
your copy of Windows 7, then the reason is probably that you have the Home Premium
version; unfortunately you need to upgrade, or else try another machine
that does have the Ultimate Edition.
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