How to use a local profile when logging on to a Win2k domain?

[trs51x]

This problem concerns my development workstation, with which I often join
and leave (Win2k) domains and sometimes (WinXP) workgroups.

My 'local' profile is CANDY - - everything is set up perfect and I don't
want to have to do it manually again.

But each time I join a new domain, I am faced with a brand new XP profile
with the blue bar and green grass...

So how can I easily copy all settings, or simply tell the computer to use
this profile even when logging onto domains?

I see "roaming profile" being discussed (usually with much confusion) on
threads and sites all over the web... I'm too inexperienced with Win2k
admin to know if this is related, but one clear distinction here is that I
want all significant profile information (i.e. My Documents files, etc.) to
be kept on *my* workstation, not on any server. i.e. if it "roams", it's
because I'm carrying the physical box around with me!! ;-)

I had a nifty hack/workaround going for a while, which I'll discuss if no
one suggests any better solution, but for now, I'd like to find out what
"the right way" is... (due in no small part to the fact that my hack
stopped working!)

Thanks in advance for any info!

 

[Matija Hrovat]

Please correct me if I missunderstood you in any way.

I don't understand why don't you use cached profile, when you aren't
connected to the domain ?


If you would like, you can "link" your domain account with your local
account.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
M A N U A L L Y - DON'T DO IT if you don't understand the instructions!!!!!!

First of all, you must be logged in with an User that has administrator
rights and it must be a different user than Candy (local profile) and
different then your domain profile (To backup your profile).

NOTE: Backup your profile!!!!!
Create a new user - BackUser and copy your profile - See releated
articles further down

When you're logged in go to Registry editor and locate the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Expand the key and you'll see sub-hives (SIDs - Security IDs) that belong to
user profiles. Check each one and look for the key ProfileImagePath.
You're searching for your username, e.g: %SystemDrive%\Documents and
Settings\Candy - local account
and for
%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\DomainAccount

The other way to figure out which SID is for which user is to use GetSID -
See releated articles further down

Change the path of your Domain Profile to the path of your local profile
(e.g. %SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Candy)

The other thing you have to do is to set up permissions on your local
profile;

Open My Computer
Go to your system drive (Usually c:\)
Open Documents and Setting
Locate your Local profile (e.g. Candy)
Right click your local profile and choose Properties
Go to Security Tab
Click add and type the name of the domain user (DomainName\DomainUser) and
click check names.
User should become underlined
Click OK.
Add a check box in Allow full control (every check box in allow becomes
checked)
Click Advanced
Put a check box in Replace permission entries on all child objects with
entries shown here that apply to child objects
Click Apply
Click OK
Reboot your computer

Login with your domain account
Right Click start end select Explore

if you look in your address bar, you should see something like:

C:\Documents and Settings\Candy\Start Menu

Check your Settings (Mail, My documents, Favorites, ...) and let us know if
something isn't right.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A U T O M A T I C - 3rd party software

NOTE: Backup your profile!!!!!
See related articles at bottom


For example:

ForensiT
http://www.forensit.com/index.htm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Related Articles:

How to restore a user profile in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314045

Getsid.exe: Get Security ID
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/getsid-o.asp

How do I copy a user profile in Windows XP? Why is the COPY TO button grayed
out?
http://www.petri.co.il/copy_user_profiles_in_windows_xp.htm

How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308418

To copy a user profile
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ll/proddocs/en-us/sysdm_userprofile_copy.mspx