Best way, Changing a profile

[TechSupp]

Set all our classes to use a default mandatory default profile I set up a while ago (following the wiki article on here :-) ), but now with an upgrade to media player its asking for it to be set up each time they log on. Can I set this not to happen via the GPO or whats the best way to change a mandatory profile. Iknow I need to change the extension from man to dat but can I do it with people logged on the system or do I have to wait till all using that default profile are logged off it?

[LiamH]

If people aren't logging in it shouldn't be an issue.

 

Had a few unfortunate side effects of changing profiles at our place so we normally copy+paste the profile, make changes on the copy (rename .man to .dat log in with account with R+W privs make changes ect)

 

run tests then copy it back over after school or when pupils aren't likely to be logging in.

 

We normally test it by moving a year group onto the copied profile for a week or so if its not an urgent change just to see if any problems arise.

[TechSupp]

Hmm, not though you could do that, I presume its just a straight copy and paste of that compete default user profile folder I created. I have set the permissions so that I can edit the extensions of the file already. Sorry if this seems a daft or simple question. Just getting over the shock of being allowed to go to BETT for two days!

[LiamH]

Im guessing its just a normal mandatory profile setup?

 

IE: shared folder on server with the profile. NTUSER.dat changed to NTUSER.man?

 

For an example we have 3 mandatory profiles on our server p-profile (pupil) t-profile (staff) and test-profile. If I wanted to modify p-profile and test it on a few pupils I would:

 

Empty the test-profile folder

copy the contents of p-profile into test-profile

Rename the .man to .dat

log in with a user with full permissions to the test-profile share, I use a test pupil account so everything's identical gp ect

make changes, log off

Rename .dat back to .man

change the profile path of a test userbase to point to test-profile (you can do this on AD to a group of users in bulk, We use a certain class with a IT literate teacher)

Once you are happy with results copy the test-profile contents back into p-profiles (clear the folder and copy all might work better after school hours)

and remember to move the test accounts back to p-profile

 

Might be a bit paranoid but better then breaking the main profile for all users by mistake

 

 

hope this helps

[TechSupp]

Yes, a very straight forward profile setup, with just one for every class the same :-)