joining the domain

[Greg Brewer]

What is the best way to join a computer that was previously on a workgroup
to a domain? The problem is that a completely new account is created. Many
of my users have been on accounts that were unable to join our domain. I
have repaired that problem but now I am faced with the problem that these
people have customized their computers and when I join them onto the domain,
it won't just migrate the existing account.

Any ideas?

Greg Brewer

 

[Peter Kaufman]

You could copy the current profile to the user once it has joined the
domain.

1) log on to the workstation as new local user that is an admin, say
user "migrate".
2) Go to the computer properties and copy the current user profile to
the local administrator profile.
3) Join the domain
4) Create a user account in AD for the person you want to join the
domain and then log on to the workstation as that person.
5) log off, then back on as the user in #1 (migrate) and copy the
local administrator profile to the new domain user profile (#4).
6) Log off, back on as a domain admin, and delete the profile for user
"migrate"

Every time you copy profiles, set the security for the profile
accordingly.

Peter

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Peter has the right idea but his process contains some steps that aren't
really necessary. This is how I do it:

1. Create the user's account in the domain.

2. Join the computer to the domain as you normally would.

3. After the computer reboots, have the user log on with their new domain
account.

4. Have the user log off, then log on with a domain administrator's
account.

5. Right-click My Computer, select Properties, then the User Profiles tab.

6. Highlight their old profile, then click the "Copy To" button. Use the
Browse button to locate their new profile in Documents and Settings. Then
click the "Change" button under "Permitted to use" and change that to their
domain login account. Click the OK button when everything is set correctly.

7. Log off the domain administrator and have the user log on and check
their configuration. The old profile should be removed when the new profile
is confirmed to be correct.

 

[Greg Brewer]

It doesn't work. When I click OK on the "copy to..." dialogue, I get a
confirmation query then an hour glass for a second or so then dialogue comes
back. If I click OK again, same thing. Ok, so I guessed that it copied the
first time and copied it again. But the size on the Profiles didn't change?
Ok, so it didn't refresh. I quit, signed on the target account and it was
still a plain new account.

Next, I tried copying to abc which doesn't exist. It created an abc folder
but there was nothing in it?!?

I noticed a change type button on the user profiles dialogue. I clicked on
it. There are two choices: local and roaming. But roaming is greyed. I
mention it as something that may or may not have something to do with the
"copy to ..." failure.

Greg

Peter has the right idea but his process contains some steps that aren't
really necessary. This is how I do it:

1. Create the user's account in the domain.

2. Join the computer to the domain as you normally would.

3. After the computer reboots, have the user log on with their new domain
account.

4. Have the user log off, then log on with a domain administrator's
account.

5. Right-click My Computer, select Properties, then the User Profiles tab.

6. Highlight their old profile, then click the "Copy To" button. Use the
Browse button to locate their new profile in Documents and Settings. Then
click the "Change" button under "Permitted to use" and change that to their
domain login account. Click the OK button when everything is set correctly.

7. Log off the domain administrator and have the user log on and check
their configuration. The old profile should be removed when the new profile
is confirmed to be correct.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

What is the best way to join a computer that was previously on a workgroup
to a domain? The problem is that a completely new account is created. Many
of my users have been on accounts that were unable to join our domain. I
have repaired that problem but now I am faced with the problem that these
people have customized their computers and when I join them onto the domain,
it won't just migrate the existing account.

Any ideas?

Greg Brewer

 

[Richard G. Harper]

I'm not sure how you're getting to where you're going but the process you're
describing doesn't sound like the one I outlined.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

It doesn't work. When I click OK on the "copy to..." dialogue, I get a
confirmation query then an hour glass for a second or so then dialogue
comes
back. If I click OK again, same thing. Ok, so I guessed that it copied
the
first time and copied it again. But the size on the Profiles didn't
change?
Ok, so it didn't refresh. I quit, signed on the target account and it was
still a plain new account.

Next, I tried copying to abc which doesn't exist. It created an abc
folder
but there was nothing in it?!?

I noticed a change type button on the user profiles dialogue. I clicked
on
it. There are two choices: local and roaming. But roaming is greyed. I
mention it as something that may or may not have something to do with the
"copy to ..." failure.

Greg

Peter has the right idea but his process contains some steps that aren't
really necessary. This is how I do it:

1. Create the user's account in the domain.

2. Join the computer to the domain as you normally would.

3. After the computer reboots, have the user log on with their new
domain
account.

4. Have the user log off, then log on with a domain administrator's
account.

5. Right-click My Computer, select Properties, then the User Profiles tab.

6. Highlight their old profile, then click the "Copy To" button. Use
the
Browse button to locate their new profile in Documents and Settings.
Then
click the "Change" button under "Permitted to use" and change that to their
domain login account. Click the OK button when everything is set correctly.

7. Log off the domain administrator and have the user log on and check
their configuration. The old profile should be removed when the new profile
is confirmed to be correct.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

What is the best way to join a computer that was previously on a workgroup
to a domain? The problem is that a completely new account is created. Many
of my users have been on accounts that were unable to join our domain. I
have repaired that problem but now I am faced with the problem that these
people have customized their computers and when I join them onto the domain,
it won't just migrate the existing account.

Any ideas?

Greg Brewer