Folder Redirection / Roaming User Profiles

[Psymon]

Hi,

 

Been trying for a couple of days now to get folder redirection working on Windows 7. Currently works with no issues on Windows XP and Vista. However creating a new user and performing the first log on in Windows 7 has issues with Profiles and Redirection.

 

I have tested redirection in the following manner -

 

Create a New OU in AD

Block Inheritance to this new OU

Create a single Group Policy Object, defining only Folder Redirection

Create an account in the new OU

Define the Profile path and Home Drive as current users are set up

AND

Define the Profile Path and Home Drive as new areas on a new share (even tested with Everyone - Full Access on share and NTFS permissions)

 

When logging in it does not work as it should.

 

However if i log into a machine running Vista, then log out and back into Windows 7, there are no issues at all! Windows 7 cannot create the profile properly perhaps? As i have seen issues where the users roaming profile has confused folder redirection (Points it at C:\Users\%username%) and deleting the users profile has solved the issue.

 

Either way, profile is created and populated, redirection creates the areas on the home share, however cannot map them properly

 

Anyone had this issue and conquered it?

 

Many thanks,

Psy

[Psymon]

Strangely enough Event Viewer suggests the redirection was successful, however when checking the path of the folders they point to C:\Users\username

 

Psy

[Psymon]

Strange one.

 

Logged into Vista with my newly created home drive area and profile area. Everything worked as intended, redirection took care of everything, and the user profile uploaded only the ntuser and appdata folder.

 

When i then logged into Windows 7 with this account, folder redirection DID NOT work, and the user profile uploaded the folders for Music, Docs, Videos etc...

 

Folder redirection is not applying to Windows 7 at all

 

Psy

[Psymon]

Thought i had it solved but after deleting the profile to test a fresh first time logon back to square 1.

 

[_Adam_]

I have seen different results with the Grant user exclusive rights option, if you have it enabled try setting it to disabled.

[Psymon]

Tried both with no luck unfortunately. I am confused as to why it works perfectly fine in Vista, yet not in 7.

 

I have got it to the point where logging into a Windows 7 machine creates a user profile, and "Applying Folder Redirection..." creates the folders on the network share.

 

However when i go to the users folder on the start menu / desktop all of the shortcuts for Docs, Pics, Music, Downloads point to C:\Users\

 

Been looking at this for 2 days now

 

Psy

[_Adam_]

Sorry for the delay, this is a weird one for sure. If it was me I would create a new GPO incase the error is with the object (rare but happens). For testing I also would not use home folders at all as this is against Microsoft best practice. There is also a GPO for having logon wait until the network is ready, enable this.

[Psymon]

I have already created a new GPO with only the folder redirection settings defined after it wouldnt work on the production network.

 

I have also played with the settings in the System\Folder Redirection and System\Group Policy with no luck.

 

Psy

[_Adam_]

The Windows 7 user is local user or a roaming/mandatory user?

[Psymon]

The Windows 7 user is local user or a roaming/mandatory user?

 

Roaming Users.

 

Cheers,

Psy

[_Adam_]

Long shot but I have seen the Current User settings in ntuser.dat overwrite the GPO settings on Win 7 boxes. A quick test is in the account remove the profile path to make it a local user (and it will copy the default profile) and log onto a clean machine or delete the cached profile first if you previously logged in with that account.

 

If it works as it should you will need to delete the folder paths out from the registry.

[Psymon]

Just had a go at local profiles with no luck.

 

For some reason Event Viewer shows no problems at all, all folder redirection events are successful.

 

Every now and then "Contacts" and "Searches" work, but nothing else.

 

Psy

[_Adam_]

At the end of the road here, only so much I can think of without having the environment in front of me. Last ditch woulld be to boot up the 7 box in Safe Mode with Networking or use MSCONFIG to disable all non-MS services and startup programs to ensure a third party app is not mis-behaving. Failing this I would even try a clean 7 image (no patches or any other programs). Since Vista is working my hunch is something on the 7 image is at fault.

[SCSI]

Try and delete the local user folders. Redirection should work then.

 

You might want to delete the local user folders on login.