1.) When you log on to a workstation it accept the logon and then stops at 'applying user settings' for ages until it goes to the desktop.

Describe ages... 2 hours? 1 minute? 30 seconds?

By area I am assuming you mean storage space:

Why not create a password protected area on the server PC in the network share? Then when the users log in, they enter their password and can see the area from the workstation? Of course each user will need a separate drive for storage but that would effectively stop each one from gaining access to the other's files. It would take a while to setup however.

http://www.winnetmag.com/WindowsSecu...280/41280.html


http://labmice.techtarget.com/window...mt/default.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...icleindex.mspx

Those should help.