Howto migrate Windows XP Pro from one Domain to another

[Guest]

Hi,
we are changing from one domain (upgraded to W-2003 from NT) to a fresh one
(W-2003 build from zero).
I´m working on this task since end 2006 and the new W-2003 server is OK.
This week I have tried to migrate one test W-XP workstation from the old
domain to the new (removed the WS from the old domain and included it in the
new domain).
The problem is that the users (from the SID perspective) are not the same.
For example, in "Documents and Settings" now I have two folders: Xyz and
Xyz.NewDomain.
How can I copy all Xyz data to Xyz.NewDomain?
The solution must be an automated solution because we have near 80
workstations and more than 2 user folders on each one.
Another question is: copying only the folder is enought? Is it necessary to
copy the user profiles too?

Any help is wellcome.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

You need to re-create the users on the domain controller; you don't need to
create them locally as well. However, you do need to manage the transfer of
the profile folders to the new users.

You will have two issues here; as you rightly observe on an NTFS disk the
SIDs will differ so the new-domain user won't be able to get into their old
profile folder. To overcome this you'lll either need to add specific rights,
or else assign ownership to the new user.

The other issue you'll meet is that Windows treats the new-domain member as
an entirely different user, regardless of the name being unchanged. When the
new user first logs-on, Windows will 'sidestep' the exisitng userprofile and
create a new one, typically named as user.domain. To avoid this happening you
need to:

Log on as Admin and Rename the exisitng userprofile folder.
Log on once as the new user
Log back on as Adminstriator
Delete the folder that step(2) created.
Rename the original folder back.
Reassign the correct rights to it (and its contents)
Log on as the user, and check everything's OK.

Automating the process? Not sure. Maybe one of the gurus in here will have a
solution on-hand.

Another workaround might be to temporarily give all users roaming profiles;
make sure everyone has logged on then off at least once, then change the
domain. Now assign 'everyone' rights to the server-side copies of the
profiles. Provided the roaming profies are accessible from the same network
location, they should load for the new users automatically. Once done, make
the profiles non-roaming if that is more suitable. I think the former method
would be easier, though.

Have to add that this is one of the key failings with domains; they may make
user and computer management easier, but they are also notoriously bad for
for creating lock-in situations like this.

 

[Guest]

Just discussing this issue, and recalled this tool;

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/russel_november19.mspx

Tried it myself a while back and didn't have much success with it, but worth
a shot.

Beware that if it does go wrong it can make a real mess, so test on an
unimportant computer first.

 

[Guest]

Hi Ian,

thanks for your reply.

I read the article "User State Migration Tools" which took me for the
article "Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP". I did
not know the Migration Wizzard. I will try it.

I´m thinking how I will do the change in one weekend.

Thanks.