User Profile Backup/Restore?

[Ol' Duffer]

I recently had to blow away my own user profile and then
re-create it due to an application that refused to work
for no good reason that I could figure out. This forced
me to do a lot of extra work that should not have been
necessary, like re-create start menus, dialup connections,
preferences for several applications, etc. So I'm looking
for a plan to "back up" and "restore" a previously working
user profile (would like to keep all my feathers numbered
for just such an occasion) ;-) I'm aware of the process of
using "mandatory" user profiles, but the method for creating
this has only a "copy to" tab, and no "copy from". Now, it
looks to me like what this basically does is copy all the
files and folders under "documents and settings\username"
to another path which you specify. If that is true, then
to "restore" a broken user profile, could you just copy all
the previously working stuff back? I haven't attempted
this yet, as I need to use the computer awhile before I try
to break it again.
Sanity check, anyone?
Tips or ideas?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I recently had to blow away my own user profile and then
re-create it due to an application that refused to work
for no good reason that I could figure out. This forced
me to do a lot of extra work that should not have been
necessary, like re-create start menus, dialup connections,
preferences for several applications, etc. So I'm looking
for a plan to "back up" and "restore" a previously working
user profile (would like to keep all my feathers numbered
for just such an occasion) ;-) I'm aware of the process of
using "mandatory" user profiles, but the method for creating
this has only a "copy to" tab, and no "copy from". Now, it
looks to me like what this basically does is copy all the
files and folders under "documents and settings\username"
to another path which you specify. If that is true, then
to "restore" a broken user profile, could you just copy all
the previously working stuff back? I haven't attempted
this yet, as I need to use the computer awhile before I try
to break it again.
Sanity check, anyone?
Tips or ideas?

You can do this:
- Log on under a different account
- Issue this command from a Command Prompt or via a batch file:
xcopy /s /d /h /y "c:\Documents and Settings\Duffer"
"d:\ProfileBacker\Duffer\"

If the profile should ever fail then you can restore it from drive D:.

This approach won't work well if your users store their data files on
their desktop.

 

[Jim Slager]

Pegasus, are you saying that you can restore all your "customizable"
stuff this way? To restore you just reverse source and destination
of the xcopy? Is it that easy?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

It certainly is. To take it one step further: If you
copy the current profile into "Default User" then
every new user will inherit the current user's
settings, warts and all.

 

[Jim Slager]

Really?!! That is a great way to create two equivalent accounts to help in
wireless networking.

But for backups, if this method is used then there is no reason to export
favorites or cookies from ie or all the personal folders, etc from
organizer, right? You could just do an xcopy of username to a folder in My
Documents and then do an xcopy of My Documents to a CD. If your disk fails,
after replacing your disk you could load windows and then do an xcopy of
your CD to My Documents and then an xcopy of username to Documents and
Settings. You've still got to download all your special apps but what the
heck.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I still prefer to backup my favourites separately, if only because
of the very large number of files in the Temporary Internet Files
folder.

 

[Ol' Duffer]

You can do this:
- Log on under a different account
- Issue this command from a Command Prompt or via a batch file:
xcopy /s /d /h /y "c:\Documents and Settings\Duffer"
"d:\ProfileBacker\Duffer\"

It appears that Windows Explorer does it quite well also.
As you point out, have to be logged in as someone else
to do your own profile (sharing errors).
I have saved my stuff somewhere I hope will be safe, and
next time a bad happens, will find out further ramifications.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

It appears that Windows Explorer does it quite well also.
As you point out, have to be logged in as someone else
to do your own profile (sharing errors).
I have saved my stuff somewhere I hope will be safe, and
next time a bad happens, will find out further ramifications.

The advantage of using a batch file is obvious: It's a single
click versus launching Explorer, navigating to your source,
selecting your object, navigating to your target etc. etc.
GUIs are great for those who do not wish to find out what's
underneath the surface of Windows. In the vast majority of
all file manipulation tasks (but not all!), a batch file beats a
GUI without even trying.

 

[Jim Slager]

Pegasus, a batch file would be great. I could do this easily in unix but I
don't have a clue about doing it in windows, especially the part about
changing logons. How about giving us a sample of a batch program?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I gave a detailed example in my very first reply in this thread.
Cut & paste that line into a file such as c:\tools\SaveProfile.bat,
then create a shortcut to c:\tools\SaveProfile.bat.

 

[Jim Slager]

Do you think it would be safe to xcopy my user profile onto my Administrator
profile so that it would match my user account?

 

[Jim Slager]

For win98se, is this same user profile data under c:\windows\Profiles? What
about c:\windows\All Users? I'm not sure that either of them have all the
stuff especially whatever the equivalent to NTUSER.DAT is.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Probably, but if you want to be safe, save the admin
profile prior to copying your own profile over it.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Sorry, I can't answer questions about Win9x.

For win98se, is this same user profile data under c:\windows\Profiles? What
about c:\windows\All Users? I'm not sure that either of them have all the
stuff especially whatever the equivalent to NTUSER.DAT is.

 

[Jim Slager]

Pegasus, what would you say to backing up the whole c disk? I know it will
take awhile but if it can be copied, can it be restored? I mean, would it
work?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Many Win2000 key files are locked while Win2000 is up and
running. You cannot copy them, hence you could not restore
them either at a later stage. Your idea is good, but to implement
it you need this:
- A split hard disk: OS & Apps on C:, data on D:.
- An imaging program such as Acronis TrueImag, PowerQuest
DriveImage or Norton Ghost.