Redirecting Application data and Desktop folders in GPO

[Kyle]

I have been into a school today that has roaming profiles for staff. They have been complaining of slow log on times so i checked the size of these folders in a few profiles. I found that some of then had files on their desktops and also had quite large application data folders. I checked the GPO and found out that neither the desktop folder or application data folder is being redirected.

I have never come across this before, will redirecting theses in GPO make a mass difference ( inoticed one user had 40mb on their desktop.)


While I'm on the subject, the My Documents were not redirected either, i noticed that in the User Properties in AD they have the Homepath set to H: folder location. If My Documents wee redirected in GPO would you need to have any setting in this box on the AD Properties?

[Ric_]

Redirecting AppData can cause problems with IE settings... you're better off with a Default profile or mandatory profile (see wiki for relative merits).

I would personally re-direct the Desktop and Start Menus so that the users have consistancy (and can't dump loads of cr@p on the Desktop).

There is no harm in having a homedrive and redirecting the My Documents (to the same place if you like).

[alonebfg]

try to limit the size of the profile this will stop people saving to the desktop i use about 3000k even that is a bit big also redirect my docs via gpo and at home folder in ad is if you want to alocate a letter ie h but in the box after it should have \\servername\docs share\%username%\My Documents or somthing like that if you look in the wiki its got a better discription.( i can do it but not good at explaning)

[Kyle]

SO i am correct in thinking this,

If you redirect the users desktop and application data, that this part of the roaming profile is not pulled down over the network when they log on bu tis accessed directly on the server?

[kingswood]

You can indeed lock down the start menu using group policy- you don't *need* to redirect the start menu at all to keep consistent settings (in fact we don't and it's always fine). This article is good at explaining the ins-and-outs of redirection:

http://www.windowsdevcenter.com/pub/..._redirect.html

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/com...anage_faq.mspx

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art...rver-2003.html

Redirecting the home folder should be adequate enough to speed up most logons. It's relative though and depends on mapping of drives at logon, scripts running at startup/logon and other things like bandwidth on your local subnet.

HTH

Paul

[ajbritton]

SO i am correct in thinking this,

If you redirect the users desktop and application data, that this part of the roaming profile is not pulled down over the network when they log on bu tis accessed directly on the server?

Yes. When you redirect folders (My Docs, App Data, Desktop, Start Menu) they are no longer part of the roaming profile. The contents are not copied to the PC (unless you are doing Offline files). The files are accessed directly from the server.

[Kyle]

Thanks AJ