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Move Users from "workgroup" to "domain"

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by Member 27160308

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I have created an NT (4.0) Domain at an office that used to use a "workgroup" configuration, with no domain. I have installed a BDC at that office and have created user accounts, etc. and have the user authenticate to the domain. This is no problem with Win98 clients, however I have some WinXP clients also.
Since XP creates a "new" user now that it is authenticating to the domain, how can I have them logon to the domain, and yet keep their profiles (stored locally) EXACTLY the same? So theycan access all of their programs and settings exactly as before.
500 points for a clear and concise answer!!

10 replies

by cg it

Active Directory users and computers can solve this problem for you. Active Directory users and computers allows you to specify the profile path, logon script,home folder, local path or drive to connect to for idividual users. Using Active Directoryto specify these attributes for each client will store their profiles and run each profile, until changed, everytime the user logs onto the domain.

by gigelul

Hi,
I don't have a WinXP box but I think that is the same like in WinNT.
Logon with local admin account on WinXP computer and in System properties\User Profiles:
-here you will see all local profiles.
-select wanted profile and chose "copy to..."
In next window:
-"permited to use" you can change to domain user.
-"browse" chose the location where you want to save this profile (on domain controller - profiles).
Next logon will download this copied profile (roaming profile).

by gigelul

Make some testes with a new user local account and a domain user account.
Maybe a option is to change the type of the profile: local-->roaming (I don't try this).

by techkid

On PDC: double click account in User Manager for Domains. Click Profiles button. Delete anything in the profile path box

On XP machine: right click My Computer and select properties. Click Advanced tab. Click Settings button under the Profiles catagory. It should list all the profiles on that computer. Check to see if it says Local or Roaming under the Type column. If it's Local, you're fine. If it says Roaming, click the Change Type button.

Hope that works

by timwalsh

Use the Files and Settings Wizard built in to XP. It's usually found in Accessories folder | System Tools folder in you Start menu.While still logged onto the Workgroup, run the Wizard (telling it you are on the computer to save settings from) and when asked, place the saved settings someplace where any user can get to them (C:\temp for instance). Join the computer to the domain and on reboot, log the user on to the domain (which creates a new user profile). Run the Wizard again (telling it you are on the computer to move settings to) and then tell it you have already collected your files and settings (and point it to the correct location). The Wizard does the rest.

by Member 27160308

This works so I will give you the points, but it is really quite simple. Just took a lot of messing around to figure out. Log on as Administrator on the 'local' machine. From the Advanced Tab of System Properties, click on the Settings button for profiles, after having logged on as the new domain user and given that user admin privledges to the local machine. Find the listing for the old "local" user profile that you want to retain, then click the copy button and browse under the Document& Settings folder to the new " and copy the profile. After setting user back to whatever security level you want them to have, log back in as that domain user. Waa..laa, everthing is there

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