How to See Which Registry Settings a Group Policy Object Modifies
Understanding Group Policy Changes with ProcMon
This guide details how to utilize Process Monitor (ProcMon) – a highly valued tool – to observe the specific registry keys that are modified when a Group Policy setting is altered on your computer.
Why Monitor Registry Changes?
Tracking these changes can be incredibly useful for troubleshooting, auditing, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of how Group Policy functions within your system.
By observing the registry modifications, administrators can pinpoint the exact locations where policies are implemented and verify their correct application.
Using ProcMon to Capture Registry Activity
ProcMon captures file system, Registry, and process/thread activity in real-time. It allows for detailed filtering to isolate the events of interest.
First, download and launch Process Monitor from Microsoft’s website. Ensure you run it with administrator privileges for full access.
Filtering for Group Policy Related Events
To focus on Group Policy changes, we need to apply filters within ProcMon.
- Process Name: Include
gpupdate.exe, as this is the process responsible for applying Group Policy updates. - Operation: Include
RegSetValue,RegCreateKey, andRegDeleteKeyto capture all registry modification types. - Path: Consider filtering for common Group Policy registry paths, such as
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PoliciesandHKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies.
These filters will significantly reduce the amount of data captured, making it easier to analyze the relevant changes.
Applying a Group Policy Change and Observing the Results
With the filters in place, apply a Group Policy change through the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) or Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
Immediately after applying the change, switch back to ProcMon. You should now see a stream of events related to the registry modifications made by gpupdate.exe.
Analyzing the Captured Registry Events
Examine the "Path" column in ProcMon to identify the specific registry keys that were modified. The "Operation" column will indicate whether a key was created, modified, or deleted.
The "Result" column will show if the operation was successful. Investigate any errors that occur during the process.
By carefully analyzing these events, you can determine exactly how the Group Policy setting impacts the system's registry.
This detailed insight is invaluable for advanced troubleshooting and policy management.
Identifying Registry Modifications by Group Policy Objects with Proc Mon
To begin, obtain a copy of Proc Mon from the Sysinternals website. This tool will be instrumental in tracking registry changes.
Next, extract the downloaded folder and execute the Procmon.exe file to launch the application.
Upon opening Proc Mon, a condition must be added to filter the captured events. Configure this condition as follows:
Process Name is mmc.exe then Include
Confirm the addition of this rule by clicking the 'Add' button.
To isolate only the registry keys undergoing changes, another condition is required. This is defined as:
Operation is RegSetValue then Include
Again, finalize the rule by clicking the 'Add' button.
With both filtering rules established, proceed by clicking the 'Ok' button.
Now, navigate to and open the specific Group Policy setting you intend to examine.
Prior to making any alterations to the setting, return to Proc Mon and clear the existing log data.
Subsequently, implement the desired change within the GPO and confirm it by clicking 'Apply'.
Switching back to Proc Mon will reveal the modified registry key(s). Right-click on the relevant entry and select 'Jump To...' from the context menu.
This action will launch Regedit and directly navigate you to the precise registry key that was altered.
This completes the process of identifying registry settings modified by a Group Policy Object using Proc Mon.