How can I create a new local user using existing domain user settings?

[Jamie Risk]

Excuse the dual post, I'm not sure where this fits in.

My Win2000 Prof computer is no longer on a domain, and my old account
portfolio resides on the computer (the stuff in "Documents &
Settings\old_account") whose files are obviously accessible using local
Admin privledges.

I'd like to be able to create a new local account to use my old domain
account files.

I know it's possible, I just don't know if it's easy or whether the Admin
tools will allow this.

- Jamie

 

[Dave Patrick]

You can use the Copy To function to mirror the profile. Logon at least once
after disjoining the domain. Then while logged on as another user (with
administrative rights) Control Panel|System|User Profiles, select your
userprofile.domainname, Copy To, Browse to
%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\userprofile.local
Change "Permitted to use:" to "userprofile.local" OK.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Excuse the dual post, I'm not sure where this fits in.
|
| My Win2000 Prof computer is no longer on a domain, and my old account
| portfolio resides on the computer (the stuff in "Documents &
| Settings\old_account") whose files are obviously accessible using local
| Admin privledges.
|
| I'd like to be able to create a new local account to use my old domain
| account files.
|
| I know it's possible, I just don't know if it's easy or whether the Admin
| tools will allow this.
|
| - Jamie
|
|

 

[Jamie Risk]

Thanks for responding,

You can use the Copy To function to mirror the profile. Logon at least
once
after disjoining the domain.

My old domain account was called 'risk'. When you wrote "Logon at least
once ..." do you mean I should using 'risk' (there was no local account so I
can't), or just as any old user with admin rights?

It reads like your suggesting I login, logout, then login as an Admin user.

Then while logged on as another user (with
administrative rights) Control Panel|System|User Profiles, select your
userprofile.domainname, Copy To, Browse to
%systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\userprofile.local
Change "Permitted to use:" to "userprofile.local" OK.

I actually don't see my old account in Control Panel|System|User Profiles,
it comes up "Account Unknown" and the "Copy To ..." button is blanked out.

Do I have any recourse? I know I could drive across the city with the
computer, and re-connect to the domain, but I'd prefer not too.

- Jamie

 

[Dave Patrick]

OK the profile appears to now be corrupt and or at least orphaned. It may be
easiest to copy over the parts you need (desktop shortcuts, favorites, etc.)
from the orphaned profile. Use the import function of your email software.


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks for responding,
|
| > You can use the Copy To function to mirror the profile. Logon at least
| > once
| > after disjoining the domain.
|
| My old domain account was called 'risk'. When you wrote "Logon at least
| once ..." do you mean I should using 'risk' (there was no local account so
I
| can't), or just as any old user with admin rights?
|
| It reads like your suggesting I login, logout, then login as an Admin
user.
|
| >Then while logged on as another user (with
| > administrative rights) Control Panel|System|User Profiles, select your
| > userprofile.domainname, Copy To, Browse to
| > %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\userprofile.local
| > Change "Permitted to use:" to "userprofile.local" OK.
|
| I actually don't see my old account in Control Panel|System|User Profiles,
| it comes up "Account Unknown" and the "Copy To ..." button is blanked out.
|
| Do I have any recourse? I know I could drive across the city with the
| computer, and re-connect to the domain, but I'd prefer not too.
|
| - Jamie
|
|

 

[Jamie Risk]

Thanks Dave for turning your attention to this thread.

I have to assume the profile is just 'orphaned'; the three other old domain
profiles turn up the same way.

I find it astonishing their would be no way to use an 'orphaned' profile --
after all it _is_ just a directory (wearing my unix hat for emphasis). And
how unfortunate, its not just application documents I'm after, templates,
macros and all sorts of unique and customized aspects of the various Office
tools I've used.

Honestly, is there no possibility of creating a new account then visiting
the registery enteries with search and replace to change the account profile
location?
Surely some program or another could discombobulate the windows manner in
handling users?

I suspect rather than relying on straightforward encyrption of a
password/user resource file, Windows [designers] chooses to obscure the SAM
data base elsewhere; is there a utility to extract and modfiy the SAM data?

- Jamie

 

[Jamie Risk]

Could I create a user, then manually copy the entire user profile to the
newly created account?

If so, how do I ensure all the hidden and system folders & files get copied
as well?

- Jamie

 

[Dave Patrick]

Yes, you can. Follow the guide lines in this article.

HOW TO: Restore a User Profile (Q314045)
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314045


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Could I create a user, then manually copy the entire user profile to the
| newly created account?
|
| If so, how do I ensure all the hidden and system folders & files get
copied
| as well?
|
| - Jamie
|
|

 

[Jamie Risk]

Thanks Dave, thats *exactly* what I've been looking for.

- Jamie

 

[Dave Patrick]

Glad to hear it. You're welcome.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks Dave, thats *exactly* what I've been looking for.
|
| - Jamie

 

[Jamie Risk]

I wrote too soon. My Outlook Express profiles don't exist.

I:
* Logged in as Administrator
* Copied the entire user profile to a new profile name (".\risk" to
".\risk_a")
* Created a user 'risk_a'
* set permissions of profile 'risk_a' to risk_a with full access, with
subfolders inheritting the same permissions.
* Logged out
* Logged in as 'risk_a'
* things looked good for about a half second (saw my old background image),
then desktop turned the default blue
-> my desktop icons weren't organized.
-> Word/Excel etc. had to 'Install' - and failed I might add (Error 1792 I
think)
-> templates and macros not to be found
-> no profiles in Outlook

I'm getting really frustrated. I can't believe the difficulty in
adminstrating something as simple as "look in this directory for your
profile".

- Jamie

 

[Dave Patrick]

Give this one a try.

http://www.jsiinc.com/sube/tip2200/rh2240.htm

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I wrote too soon. My Outlook Express profiles don't exist.