Home folders renames to My Documents

[bewlay51]

Is there a patch or fix to the bug that renames the users home folder to "My Documents" when you redirect the Documents folder on a Windows 7 based computer to a network share (see screen shot). I have looked at the following fix for Vista

 

When you redirect the Documents folder on a Windows Vista-based computer to a network share, the folder name unexpectedly changes back to Documents

 

I have tried method 2 and it doesn't work for me. Method 3 is a joke as the server may have 400+ home folders and I cant be expected to apply method 3 to all the desktop.ini files!!

 

The home folder is renamed when the user logs off, and once renamed to "My Documents" has not effect on its use. I cant believe this bug even exists on a flagship O.S. like Server 2008 R2.

 

Thanks,

 

John

[Nixphoe]

Here's a way to test out step 3 with a script. First test to see if this fixes your issue

XCACLS desktop.ini /D Administrator:R /Y

 

Manually check the file permission. If that works this should work for automating it for all users. I'm not too sure which desktop.ini file they are talking about so I'm putting an example for one in the file path and one in a UNC path.

 

FOR /F "tokens=1 delims= " %a in ('dir /b "c:\documents and settings"') DO XCACLS "c:\documents and settings\%a\desktop.ini /D Administrator:R /Y"

 

FOR /F "tokens=1 delims= " %a in ('dir /b "\\server\users\"') DO XCACLS  "\\server\users\%a\desktop.ini /D Administrator:R /Y"

 

** One note. If you save this to a batch file, you want to make the % double %% or else it won't work.

[jmcdermott]

Applied a quick fix for this on our network still working on long term fix.

 

Quick Fix

1) Set up a batch file on the server with the home dirs to delete all desktop.ini files from user areas.

2) Set up a task to run script every 12 hours.

 

not perfect but works.

[bewlay51]

Hello all and many thanks for your help and replies. I finally fixed the problem by disabling file synchronisation on the home folders.

 

This is what I found was happening….

 

1. I created a home folder in AD by using \\server\home$\students\%username%

 

2. That home folder is empty. There is nothing in the folder so the idea of deleting the desktop.ini file wont work.

 

3. The user logs on and a profile is created on the PC.

 

4. As soon as the user logs off the folders are synchronised and it is at that moment the home folder is renamed to “My Documents”; I guess thats when the desktop.ini file is copied across.

 

A real PAIN!! I’m lucky, the 2008 R2 server and test Win7 are all in a virtual format and I had set it up to configure some Group Polices and test for bugs before going live. I won’t be going live just yet.

 

I only have a few hours a week to work on this project and I have spent more time sorting bugs out then getting the GPO’s sorted out.

 

Thanks again.

PS: I know Roseland in Cornwall very well – very nice church.

[macdaddy]

Hello all and many thanks for your help and replies. I finally fixed the problem by disabling file synchronisation on the home folders.

 

bewlay51 you are definitely onto something here. The problem does indeed appear to be in the synchronization. How did you stop the synchronization on the home folders. I am running group policy and have not been able to do this.

 

Thanks in advance.

[tmcd35]

I've just noticed this on our systems. The home folders are stored on Win2k3 servers. When viewed from win2k3 or WinXP the folders are named correctly. When viewd from Win7 or Win08R2 the home folders, of those that have been accessed on a Win7 client, are all listed as 'My Documents'. Weired, but everything works so I haven't worrid about it!

[featured_spectre]

Applied a quick fix for this on our network still working on long term fix.

 

Quick Fix

1) Set up a batch file on the server with the home dirs to delete all desktop.ini files from user areas.

2) Set up a task to run script every 12 hours.

 

not perfect but works.

 

Would you happen to have the batch script to hand?

[DMcCoy]

Or you can just have My Documents as a redirect to a sub folder on their home folder as method one suggests. There are 10 profile folders that need redirecting after all (My Saved Games etc). Thats all we do here.

 

Username\Documents

Username\Downloads

Username\Music

[bewlay51]

Sorry, not been around for a while.

I did fix the problem by disabling file synchronisation on the home folders. I did it on the caching tab of the share, in my case "home$" Simple FIX. The following maybe of some help, but stops all synchronisation....

 

File Synchronisation – Stopping

You may wish to prevent file and folder synchronisation taking place when a user logs off. If so, you will need to edit the two group polices as described below.

 

a) Run group policy editor and navigate to “Default Domain Policy” right click and choose edit.

b) Choose Computer Configuration >Administrative Templates > Networking > Offline files.

 

Make the following changes:

 

Allow or disallow use of offline files features Disable

Synchronize all offline files when logging on Disable

Synchronize all offline files when logging off Disable

Synchronize all offline files before suspend Disable

 

Remove “Make Available Offline” Enabled

Prevent the use of offline file folders Enabled

 

Prohibit “Make available Offline” for those files and folders Disable

 

 

c) Navigate to “Default Domain Policy” right click and choose edit.

d) Choose Computer Configuration >Administrative Templates > Networking > Offline files.

 

Allow or disallow use of offline files features Disable

 

NEXT

e) Right click on the “home” share the select > Sharing > Caching >

f) Enable the last option “Files and programs from the share will not be available offline”. If wished, this option can be enabled for all shared folders.

 

Re-boot the server

[macdaddy]

Sorry, not been around for a while.

I did fix the problem by disabling file synchronisation on the home folders. I did it on the caching tab of the share, in my case "home$" Simple FIX. The following maybe of some help, but stops all synchronisation....

 

Perfect! The best solution I have seen yet. Have implemented it and all is working perfectly. Our one folder redirection policy for XP/7 works as advertised. You are correct this setting stops synchronization for all effected by the Group Policy. So this may not be for everyone. Thanks bewlay51!

[bewlay51]

Perfect! The best solution I have seen yet. Have implemented it and all is working perfectly. Our one folder redirection policy for XP/7 works as advertised. You are correct this setting stops synchronization for all effected by the Group Policy. So this may not be for everyone. Thanks bewlay51!

 

 

More then happy to help. This is a great forum and if I can help by passing on some information then I'm happy to do so. I have picked up some very useful tips here and I feel its all about sharing information.

[CraigM]

We have had this issue start to crop up now that we have Windows 7 computers starting to show up. Problem is that we still have far more XP computers here, and are likely to have XP for some time to come still. Still, we will try to fix this before it causes any potential issues.

 

I must say, it is indeed some strange behaviour, even though it was meant by design.

[adamf]

Perfect! The best solution I have seen yet. Have implemented it and all is working perfectly. Our one folder redirection policy for XP/7 works as advertised. You are correct this setting stops synchronization for all effected by the Group Policy. So this may not be for everyone. Thanks bewlay51!

 

Does anybody know how this would affect folders I do want to make available offline, such as users who have laptops? I don't want to tick the box if it's going to end up breaking something else.

[macdaddy]

Does anybody know how this would affect folders I do want to make available offline, such as users who have laptops? I don't want to tick the box if it's going to end up breaking something else.

 

We have used this for the last two months now and have had no problems. For us the GP is placed in the "Computers" OU which houses desktops and laptops. We have a mix of XP and 7. Since implementing this we have had no synchronization. But keep in mind for us we wanted to implement this District wide. We have not seen the home folders effected as well so there is no "renaming" of the home folders as before.

[rpwillis]

I've written a PowerShell script which denies read access to the desktop.ini file to a specified group. Anyone in this group will then not have the documents renamed.

 

http://blog.salamandersoft.co.uk/index.php/2010/09/how-to-stop-home-folders-being-renamed-documents-in-the-network-share/

[bmdixon]

I've written a PowerShell script which denies read access to the desktop.ini file to a specified group. Anyone in this group will then not have the documents renamed.

 

Richard Willis – SharePoint Learning Kit Coordinator, SalamanderSoft Owner » How To Stop Home Folders Being Renamed Documents in the Network Share

 

Thank you!! It's worked brilliantly.

[WebbA]

Sorry to dredge up old threads but I just got round to attempting to fix this (never really bothered me as always accessed users from unc shares) any way, I took the above guys test script, modded to work with xcacls.vbs and it works a treat, many thanks Nixphoe.

 

due to our legacy shares (created few year back by ranger, our issue was domain admin access to desktop.ini, not administrators)

 

script below if anyone wants a gander, modded to work straight from a batch file, and xcalcs.vbs from c drive

 

'dir /b "\\servername\students\"') DO cscript c:\XCACLS.vbs  ""\\servername\students\%%a\desktop.ini /D "Domain Admins:R""

[Chunks_]

Sorry to dredge up this thread again, but i was also wanting to do this and keep syncronization. As i read through the thread i was eagerly awaiting the batch file script that could be scheduled to delete the desktop.ini file. But alas i have got to the end and there was no script so i sorted it. Batch file script to delete desktop.ini file.

Thought it would be nice to share with you all. If the link is helpful please thank me

Edited March 2, 2011 by Chunks_

[cromertech]

I've written a PowerShell script which denies read access to the desktop.ini file to a specified group. Anyone in this group will then not have the documents renamed.

 

Richard Willis – SharePoint Learning Kit Coordinator, SalamanderSoft Owner » How To Stop Home Folders Being Renamed Documents in the Network Share

 

Fantastic. works very well however if you look at the comments on this page you will see this

 

Instead of using a script you could also just add an extra column to the view of windows explorer called “Filename”

“View”, “Choose Details…”, activate “Filename” and press “OK”

 

which works fine. Saves a lot of time with scripting to delete files that get recreated every time the student logs in.

[sstretchh]

Sorry, not been around for a while.

I did fix the problem by disabling file synchronisation on the home folders. I did it on the caching tab of the share, in my case "home$" Simple FIX. The following maybe of some help, but stops all synchronisation....

 

File Synchronisation – Stopping

You may wish to prevent file and folder synchronisation taking place when a user logs off. If so, you will need to edit the two group polices as described below.

 

a) Run group policy editor and navigate to “Default Domain Policy” right click and choose edit.

b) Choose Computer Configuration >Administrative Templates > Networking > Offline files.

 

Make the following changes:

 

Allow or disallow use of offline files features Disable

Synchronize all offline files when logging on Disable

Synchronize all offline files when logging off Disable

Synchronize all offline files before suspend Disable

 

Remove “Make Available Offline” Enabled

Prevent the use of offline file folders Enabled

 

Prohibit “Make available Offline” for those files and folders Disable

 

 

c) Navigate to “Default Domain Policy” right click and choose edit.

d) Choose Computer Configuration >Administrative Templates > Networking > Offline files.

 

Allow or disallow use of offline files features Disable

 

NEXT

e) Right click on the “home” share the select > Sharing > Caching >

f) Enable the last option “Files and programs from the share will not be available offline”. If wished, this option can be enabled for all shared folders.

 

Re-boot the server

 

 

 

I have applied all the settings listed here, do i have to go back and delete out the desktop.ini settings to get the folders users folder that were showing up as document before I applied these settings ?

[bewlay51]

I have applied all the settings listed here, do i have to go back and delete out the desktop.ini settings to get the folders users folder that were showing up as document before I applied these settings ?

 

 

I found that once the users folder had been renamed to "My Documents" or "Documents" you had to manually rename it back to the user name. I don't think it will do any harm to delete the desktop.ini file, but I didn't do that.

 

John

[Liam]

Has anyone come up with a definate solution to this yet?

 

I have tried all of the group policy suggestions with no luck. I want to avoide having to setup scheduled tasks for scripts etc.

 

Thanks

[AlexB]

@Liam

 

We use FSRM to block the creation of desktop.ini on the user shares. I think it is available in server 2003 r2 and up, but I know it is in 2008.

 

Obviously this only fixes new creation so once in place you'll have to remove the existing files.

[AlexB]

We also use FSRM for quota management and I have to say I've been very impressed for something Microsoft provide for 'free'!

 

I love the way if you have a quota on a user's folder then drive display in my computer shows a bar of how much of the quota is in use.

[Liam]

Thanks ALEXB

 

I Must admit i didnt think of using a file screen.

 

thanks

 

All is well.