When you try to configure user settings within the group policy editor, for example the Internet Explorer Maintenance, settings are not applied. None of the configured settings are effective.
There are two solutions:
1. The domain user which you logon with is not in the OU to which the group policy is linked. Place the domain user in the appropriate OU the group policy is linked to.
2. If you do not want the domain user in the specific OU, then you have to enable the ‘loopback processing mode‘. This setting can be found in: Computer configuration / Administrative templates / System / Group Policy / User Group Policy loopback processing mode. Enable this setting and choose ‘Replace’ mode. More information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231287.
User settings are now applied.