Copying Windows XP User Profiles

[Charles Masteller]

To All;

I am the MIS Manager for a small non profit foundation in
Kaneohe, Hi. We run Windows 2000 server on a Domain
Controller and a seperate file server. We have started
installing workstations on this network running XP Pro. I
am having a difficult time taking the user profiles from
one user and copying them over to another user. This
becomes a problem where I have a new employee who takes
over for a former employee and needs access to the same
files, shortcuts, priveledges, etc.

Hope someone can suggest some tips and resources that may
help.

Thanks

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

To All;

I am the MIS Manager for a small non profit foundation in
Kaneohe, Hi. We run Windows 2000 server on a Domain
Controller and a seperate file server. We have started
installing workstations on this network running XP Pro. I
am having a difficult time taking the user profiles from
one user and copying them over to another user. This
becomes a problem where I have a new employee who takes
over for a former employee and needs access to the same
files, shortcuts, priveledges, etc.

Copy the old employee's account when creating the new one in ADUC.
Don't store any files locally - redirect my documents to the users' home
directories. When user A leaves, you can copy the contents of their home
directory to user B if needed...but shared data doesn't belong in the home
directory; create a shared folder for all users to use, and, well, share.
Map a drive to it in your login script.
Not sure how many shortcuts you have or why - you can copy from the old
profile, but why not just use shortcuts in the program menu for All Users?

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

If you don't want to simply rename the existing account and change the logon
name, create the new user account by right clicking on the old account in
ADU&C and selecting copy. This gives the new user the same group
memberships, permissions etc.

To copy the old profile, right click on My Computer, select Properties, and
click the User Profiles tab. Select the old profile and click the Copy to
button. Be sure to click the Change button under Permitted to use. If you
want to copy roaming profiles, see:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;243420

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Charles Masteller]

Thanks for both replies. I was copying the old employees
user profile from the Active Directory but that didn't
work. The one response about the redirect to the files on
the server explains my problem. The previous MIS Manager
didn't really use AD and most all users have their
applications and their data on their workstations. So that
would explain part of the problem.

Copying user profiles from the workstation control panel
isn't an option either since the user setup information is
on the Domain Controller. I knew I had my hands full when
I took this position, the more I learn about how the
previous manager set things up, the more intense my
migraines get.

If anyone has any advise as to any tricks or tips that can
help with the setup I am dealing with, you can reach me
directly at (e-mail address removed).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mahalo;

Charles