Confusion over profiles with domain users...

[kennysarmy]

Just for information my background is not IT !

 

In creating our base Windows 7 image for deployment via WDS I don't do anything regards profiles on the server!

 

I simply install windows 7, join to the domain in an OU that has no GPO's attached, install all the software required whilst logged on as a domain admin.

 

I reset the remaining rearm count, clean up the image using sysprep, generalize and then capture the image for copying to our Windows Deployment Server.

 

This has been working well now with windows 7 32 and now 64 bit installs for over three years.

 

However, in preparing for an update to the image I have been reading about how to deploy mandatory profiles do domain users.....and I don't understand why I would need to do this when I've not done it in the past.

 

If mandatory profiles only prevent users from changing computer settings and I can do this anyway using group policies, what are the advantages? Does it make logging on quicker?

 

Any support appreciated.

Cheers

[fairm010]

We use mandatory profiles from the server which loads the desktop icons for kids. Gets them logged on in under 10 seconds as the profile sits at about 3Mb.

[kennysarmy]

We use mandatory profiles from the server which loads the desktop icons for kids. Gets them logged on in under 10 seconds as the profile sits at about 3Mb.

 

I use folder redirection for desktops for the various groups.....but my logon speeds are nearer 45 seconds for our average....

[synaesthesia]

It also makes things safer too as any nasties that hang about don't tend to do so (as they can't unless you've gone really ape with redirection). Plus less to go wrong, no profile corruption issues.

[fairm010]

You must have very patient staff! Our IT teachers went nuts back when we upgraded to 7. The logons were about 1 min until we used .MAN profiles.

[kennysarmy]

You must have very patient staff! Our IT teachers went nuts back when we upgraded to 7. The logons were about 1 min until we used .MAN profiles.

 

The time I quoted was for the first initial logon, subsequent ones are nearer 15 seconds...

[fairm010]

Ah I see

[witch]

We don't use mandatory profiles - everything is redirected - log on is pretty fast

If it ain't broke....

 

Yes, I have gone ape as regards redirected folders ever since I found out that Dropbox was storing in the app data

Edited March 27, 2014 by witch