The old ADM files could be anywhere on the network, and if you didn’t have the latest set on your system, then you might not be seeing all available Group Policy settings. Even with Vista, you get a set of ADMX files on the local hard drive.
However, for domain-based GPOs, Windows server 2008 and Vista use a network-based central store to keep all ADMX files: it’s on domain controllers, in sysvolpoliciespolicydefinitions. Once you set up the central store (TechNet has the details), the GPOE and Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) consoles will use it from that point forward in lieu of the local store.
Having a central store for ADMX templates is great, because it means that administrators only need to update the templates one time, and Active Directory replication will take care of propagating the updates to all the domain controllers in the network. No more asking yourself if your ADMs are the latest and greatest.
See recent blog posts…
New Migration/Editing Utility
New Source File Format (ADMX/ADML) in WS2008
A step by step on how to add a role to Server Core
Server Core – A minimalist approach to managing WS2008
