12.5 Using System Tools and System Editors to Troubleshoot Windows 9x/2000
12.5.3 Using Windows system editors
The Windows operating systems contain important editors. These editors allow Windows settings to be changed and customized to whatever policy the system administrator desires. A system administrator can use the SYSEDIT.EXE and POLEDIT.EXE editor to edit configuration settings to the user interface. In Windows 2000 the Group Policy Editor (GPE) allows the administrator to edit a policy for an entire group of users at one time.

SYSEDIT.EXE
Typing sysedit in the Run dialog box of the Start menu will open the system editor tool. The sysedit utility is used to modify text files such as the .INI files in the system, as well as the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. The sysedit commands are similar to the other Windows-based text editing programs.

POLEDIT.EXE
Use the System Policy Editor (POLEDIT.EXE) to set up different security restrictions for different users. Use it to set one policy for a whole group, configure desktops for roving users so that any computer they use will have the same look, or to protect a computer if it is unplugged from the network.

The Windows system policy editor is a powerful tool that is used to create and edit local registry values to standardize desktop settings, to prevent users from modifying hardware and environment settings, and to control or restrict user actions.

Windows System Policy Editor also prevents security problems like file-tampering, loss of data as a result of accidental system software changes, or users being locked out of their own computers.

Group Policy Editor (GPE) (Windows 2000)
Group policies provide a means for further refining and centralizing the management of an end user's desktop environment. Group policies can be used to control the programs that are available to users, the programs that appear on a user's desktop, and the Start menu options.

Group policies are a set of configuration settings that a system administrator can apply to one or more objects in the Active Directory database. A group policy is used to control the work environments of users in a domain. Group policies can also control the work environment with accounts that are located in a specific Organizational Unit. In addition, group policies can be set at the site level, using the Active Directory Sites and Services snap-in.

A group policy consists of the settings that govern how an object and the sub objects behave. Group policies allow a group policy administrator to provide users with a fully populated desktop environment. This environment can include a customized Start menu, applications that are automatically set up, and restricted access to files, folders, and Microsoft Windows 2000 system settings. Group policies can also affect the rights that are granted to user accounts and groups.

EDIT.COM
This is a windows troubleshooting tool that can view and edit configuration (text) files such as AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, .INI files and others.