Domain profiles.

[Brian]

I'm not sure if this is the right newsgroup to post this, but this is
something I always wished I knew how to do. Scenario:

Small network of 2000/XP workstations. Domain controller is added to
network, computers are added to domain. Domain user accounts are added as
local users/administrators on workstations using "control userpasswords2"
OK, now what I *want* to do, is use an existing profile on the workstation
for when the user logs in to the domain. I've tried copying the profile to
where the computer loads the domain profile from (usually C:\Documents and
Settings\user.DOMAIN) and checking permissions, etc.. no joy...

Is there any easy way to do this? Do any proposed solutions also allow one
to copy a domain profile to a local user profile?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mike Kolitz]

There are a couple ways to do this, it just depends on how much work you
want to put into it (doesn't everything?).

The first - and easiest - is to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
This tool will allow you to transfer files and settings from one profile to
another. It's located at Start / [All] Programs / Accessories / System
tools.

Secondly, you could copy the profile manually, as you have done, but you've
got to get the security right. Profiles will not work correctly if the user
is not the *owner* of all of the files and folders in their profile. Using
Windows Server 2003, I know you can assign ownership of files and folders to
a specific user. In earlier version of Windows you cannot do that natively.
I'm not aware of any other utilities that perform that task, but that
doesn't mean they don't exist.

Out of curiosity, is there a reason you're not using Roaming Profiles?

 

[Brian]

Thanks for your help.

re: roaming profiles.

I've never used them because they've always seemed more trouble than they're
worth. Aren't they really designed for larger scale networks where PCs have
identical software installations? Most of the clients I work for have
disparate workstations that have been purchased at different times, have
different software, etc. My understanding is that roaming profiles are not
suitable in such instances - please tell me if I'm wrong!

There are a couple ways to do this, it just depends on how much work you
want to put into it (doesn't everything?).

The first - and easiest - is to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
This tool will allow you to transfer files and settings from one profile to
another. It's located at Start / [All] Programs / Accessories / System
tools.

Secondly, you could copy the profile manually, as you have done, but you've
got to get the security right. Profiles will not work correctly if the user
is not the *owner* of all of the files and folders in their profile. Using
Windows Server 2003, I know you can assign ownership of files and folders to
a specific user. In earlier version of Windows you cannot do that natively.
I'm not aware of any other utilities that perform that task, but that
doesn't mean they don't exist.

Out of curiosity, is there a reason you're not using Roaming Profiles?

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup / Deployment

I'm not sure if this is the right newsgroup to post this, but this is
something I always wished I knew how to do. Scenario:

Small network of 2000/XP workstations. Domain controller is added to
network, computers are added to domain. Domain user accounts are added as
local users/administrators on workstations using "control userpasswords2"
OK, now what I *want* to do, is use an existing profile on the workstation
for when the user logs in to the domain. I've tried copying the profile
to
where the computer loads the domain profile from (usually C:\Documents and
Settings\user.DOMAIN) and checking permissions, etc.. no joy...

Is there any easy way to do this? Do any proposed solutions also allow
one
to copy a domain profile to a local user profile?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mike Kolitz]

Roaming profiles are really a mixed blessing.

Personally, I agree with you - differing software versions have the capacity
to add more 'junk' to the users' roaming profile. That doesn't necessarily
corrupt it or anything like that, it just bloats it, and it *could* cause
issues between versions - but that's an issue that really specific to the
software.

On the other hand, it's nice to have consistent and personalized settings no
matter which computer you happen to log in on.

I was just curious - I wasn't making a recommendation

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup / Deployment

Thanks for your help.

re: roaming profiles.

I've never used them because they've always seemed more trouble than
they're
worth. Aren't they really designed for larger scale networks where PCs
have
identical software installations? Most of the clients I work for have
disparate workstations that have been purchased at different times, have
different software, etc. My understanding is that roaming profiles are
not
suitable in such instances - please tell me if I'm wrong!

There are a couple ways to do this, it just depends on how much work you
want to put into it (doesn't everything?).

The first - and easiest - is to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
This tool will allow you to transfer files and settings from one profile to
another. It's located at Start / [All] Programs / Accessories / System
tools.

Secondly, you could copy the profile manually, as you have done, but you've
got to get the security right. Profiles will not work correctly if the user
is not the *owner* of all of the files and folders in their profile. Using
Windows Server 2003, I know you can assign ownership of files and folders to
a specific user. In earlier version of Windows you cannot do that natively.
I'm not aware of any other utilities that perform that task, but that
doesn't mean they don't exist.

Out of curiosity, is there a reason you're not using Roaming Profiles?

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup / Deployment

I'm not sure if this is the right newsgroup to post this, but this is
something I always wished I knew how to do. Scenario:

Small network of 2000/XP workstations. Domain controller is added to
network, computers are added to domain. Domain user accounts are added as
local users/administrators on workstations using "control userpasswords2"
OK, now what I *want* to do, is use an existing profile on the workstation
for when the user logs in to the domain. I've tried copying the
profile
to
where the computer loads the domain profile from (usually C:\Documents and
Settings\user.DOMAIN) and checking permissions, etc.. no joy...

Is there any easy way to do this? Do any proposed solutions also allow
one
to copy a domain profile to a local user profile?

Thanks in advance!