NTUSER dat file question

[speckytecky]

I’m running a Dell Power Edge 600SC Win 2K server and 32 networked XP Pro Workstations (half Dell Gx60 and the other half GX 270). A problem I commonly encounter is a small number of the machines loose profiles. The resulting main problem is existing users, no problem but a new user logging on is not picking up any printer defaults at all. This seems workstation specific – if the same student logs onto another workstation no problem. I reckon I need to edit or copy the ntuser.dat file from a good machine to the failing machine – would this be right? If so on search I see NTUSER files all 256 KB in size at:

C:\DocumentsandSettings\
C:\i386
C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile

Advice would be most welcome.

[danIT]

just delete all the local user accounts, start a fresh its the best way, or just image it again! how long can it take!?

[E1uSiV3]

Are these network or local printers? network printers are user based, local printers are machine based.

When you say:

A problem I commonly encounter is a small number of the machines loose profiles

What do you mean by lose, are they not loading and a new profile being made or are they dissapearing from the machine itself?

[Geoff]

Are you using roaming profiles, mandatory profiles or folder redirection?

Also, have you considered setting up printers in a login script? I use Ric' VBS script (posted in the scripts forum).

[speckytecky]

Are these network or local printers? network printers are user based, local printers are machine based.

The current printer (Brother HL 5130 laser) that should come up as default is usb connected to our server as is the old printer (Epson C43inkjet). Most workstations still pick the Epson up as default. About 3 fail to pick a printer up at all on first use by a new student.

When you say:

A problem I commonly encounter is a small number of the machines loose profiles

What do you mean by lose, are they not loading and a new profile being made or are they dissapearing from the machine itself?

This is a problem as well. Not only the occasional printer setting loss but also on one machine Black Cat programmes although MSI installed and resident in the programe directory are not coming through as available when certain students log on.

[speckytecky]

Are you using roaming profiles, mandatory profiles or folder redirection?

Looking at the user profiles in Active Directory no user profile has been set. On the Workstations the only NTUSER files are DAT files.

Also, have you considered setting up printers in a login script? I use Ric' VBS script (posted in the scripts forum).

I'll have to look at that one thanks.