Scripting a "change" to a users favorites folder to work out of a central source in a multi server environment.

As we navigate in and out of our existing and future state citrix and terminal server environments, our user base and end user requests change to meet business requirements. and naturally, its difficult to work within the confines of your network and change processes. In this situation, we have a customer who wants to enable the sharing of the favorites server for an application currently hosted in a XenApp 5.0 farm.

This is a legit request, and one that probably many of you see quite often. The question is, how can we effectively manage seemingly small request this for our citrix/ts users?

First lets quickly describe the parameters we are working with:
1.) Roaming profiles are available if needed
2.) Domain group policy is not an option
3.) Local group policy is an option
4.) Citrix icon is distributed among 8 servers in a load balanced configuration.
5.) Only need to redirect Favorites, Shell folders

Option One:
To address the need to redirect favorites, change\modify the following registry key:
Shell folders: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, Favorites
Default Value: %USERPROFILE%\Favorites...  Note: User Shell Folders/Favorites is a hex value and the best way to manage in this case would be to make your settings on a test box then export your registry key. This hex value will hold any variables you may have or use. Unlike Shell Folders\favorites, which will immediately translate your variable into its static value.
Change to: driveletter:\%username%\Favorites_Roam

To address the need to redirect shell favorites, change\modify the following registry key:
IE Favorites: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders, Favorites
Default Value: C:\Documents and Settings\userID\Favorites
Change to: driveletter:\%username%\Favorites_Roam

To test changes:
1.) manually set values for non administrative test account on one server
2.) log off server
3.) log back in
4.) con registry values under option one still exist
5.) open internet explorer and save any random website as favorite
6.) navigate to any explorer directory and set as favorite
7.) logon to a second server where the above changes have not been previously made and make the registry changes