Microsoft Windows NT Server White Paper 89
System Policy Flowchart
This flowchart illustrates how System Policy is applied in the Windows NT 4.0
operating system, and gives the administrator an at-a-glance look at the internal
processing that occurs when policies are implemented under Windows NT 4.0.
Initiate application of policy
Does User-Specific
Policy exist?
Read User-Specific Policy
and write Registry entries
Yes No
Does Machine-
Specific Policy
exist?
Read Machine-Specific Policy
and write Registry entries
Yes
No
Does Default
Computer Policy
exist?
End policy process
No
Read Default Computer Policy
and write Registry entries
Yes
Does Default User
Policy exist?
Read Default User Policy and
write Registry entries
Yes
Do Group Policies
exist?
No
Do not modify Registry
No
Apply policy of lowest priority
group and continue through
highest priority until
complete. If setting has
already been set by Default
User and the same option is
gray in the Group Policy, do
not modify from the Default
User setting.
Yes
Flowchart 5. Policy Application
