Proper way of copying default profiles in XP?

[Sir Timbit]

I know the standard way of copying the default profile is by using the Copy
profile option in the System control panel, in the Advanced tab, and this is
how I usally create them... But what happens if you just take a profile you
want to be the default profile, and just rename it to "Default User"? Are
there steps missed if someone were to try and configure a default account
this way? Anyone know of a KB document that explains what happens if it's
not done this way?

Thanks,
Sir_Tim

 

[Guest]

When you go to user accounts,delete an account,xp asks if you want
to save files,save files to and use as default.

 

[Darrell Gorter[MSFT]]

Hello
Basically either way will cause problems.
Each profile contains information specific to the user it was generated for
except Default User of course.
So there will be things like shortcuts which point back to the source
profile.
There will be registry entries that point back to the source profile.
The desktop.ini files will reference the source profile
If all users are administrators it appears to work since all users then
have access to each profile, so the pointers to the other profile are still
valid.
Everything however is dependant on that profile remaining in existence.

The only supported way to copy profiles over so users will get those
customizations will be use XPSP2 and make the modifcations to the local
administrator profile and then run sysprep. Mini-setup which runs after
the reboot from Sysprep will copy over the Default User profile with the
Local Administrator's profile.

Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

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