User profiles - how to copy

[speckytecky]

I'm trying to set up a bunch of new PC's. Set up my dummy account with all the bits I can think of and I'm now in System Properties \ user profiles trying to copy to the default user profile. However, I can't because the user I want to copy is greyed out on copy to - grr!

[Domino]

You'll need to reboot before doing it cause the ntuser.dat is locked when its been logged in.....

[powdarrmonkey]

You need not to be logged in as the user in question, which frees up all the files and enables the 'copy to' button.

[splat51]

As the other two have suggested. I would also recommend deploying 'User Profile Hive Cleanup Service'. Doing so saves you from having to perform a restart, you will still have to be logged in as another user.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

[speckytecky]

Thanks all for your suggestions. Still not working though. In System Properties / User Profiles the only accounts that come up as able to copy are the ones on the local machine. The profile I want to copy comes up as Account Unknown, I can change or delete it but copy is greyed out?

[sharkster]

cant you access the C: drive of that machine form another one in the network (my thinking is - if you dont log on the profile is not locked down, then you can copy the profile through the network to where you want it.

 

dont know if this will work or not though!

[powdarrmonkey]

cant you access the C: drive of that machine form another one in the network (my thinking is - if you dont log on the profile is not locked down, then you can copy the profile through the network to where you want it.

 

dont know if this will work or not though!

 

Yes, it will, all other things being equal. Make sure you boot the machine clean and don't log in before you do though, or you might find that some files stay locked when you log out.

[powdarrmonkey]

Hmm, is this a roaming profile or a local?

[speckytecky]

cant you access the C: drive of that machine form another one in the network (my thinking is - if you dont log on the profile is not locked down, then you can copy the profile through the network to where you want it.

 

dont know if this will work or not though!

 

Thanks, I suppose I could do that but would probably end up corrupting something. I should be able to do it the recognised way then all the settings would apply but for some unknown reason it doesn't want to play. It's not just one PC either?

[powdarrmonkey]

Thanks, I suppose I could do that but would probably end up corrupting something. I should be able to do it the recognised way then all the settings would apply but for some unknown reason it doesn't want to play. It's not just one PC either?

 

Everything the profile needs is in its folder, think of it as a caravan. You can move things in and out but when you move the whole thing, you can still get in and live in it. You won't corrupt or miss anything just by grabbing the whole unit.

[speckytecky]

Hmm, is this a roaming profile or a local?

 

It's the default on the user machine I want to update with a non roaming user profile.

[Michael]

Microsoft's official way of copying profiles does have its complications, so here's how I do it. Logon the machine and perform all tweaks as necessary, then logoff.

 

From another machine, logon, then from My Computer type \\WorkstationName\C$\Documents and Settings

 

Open up the profile and rename NTUSER.DAT to NTUSER.MAN. Now move or copy the profile folder wherever you want it to go. Either on each workstation or within a profile share on your server.

[powdarrmonkey]

Note - renaming the ntuser.dat (user's registry hive) to ntuser.man turns the profile into a mandatory one.

[speckytecky]

Microsoft's official way of copying profiles does have its complications, so here's how I do it. Logon the machine and perform all tweaks as necessary, then logoff.

....

 

Thanks Michael,

 

I reckon the tweaks bit is the bit I need to learn a bit more about. I did it ok on our Dells and set up an account that I was able to copy over the default profile which brought up printer settings the right home folder and internet settings for a fresh user. But on the Fujitsu Simemens machines I haven't had the same success yet. Currently we don't get a lot of fiddling by the students other than Y4 to Y6 changing backgrounds - but to stop them doing even that mandatory profiles might be the way to go;).

[Michael]

When I say tweaks, I mean like running Microsoft Office for the first time, Adobe Reader and Paint Shop Pro etc - they all throw up messages the first time they run.

 

When you logoff this is all saved within the profile. I would recommend you look at roaming profiles. Generally speaking pupils I give a single mandatory profile which they all share and staff have their own profiles.

 

On your server, create a folder called Profiles and share it as Profiles$ Add Everyone and give Full Control. All profiles then go in here.

 

Within Active Directory, specify the roaming profile using a UNC path \\servername\profiles$\PROFILENAME That's all there is to it. It's far easier rather than going round each machine and changing the default user profile. The user uses the profile you specify all at server level.