General discussion
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Topic
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XP Pro, Customization, Store User Profiles on data server, without domain
LockedI am looking for recommendations on how best to do this.
In a small company without a domain (just a workgroup), I would like to store each users profile data on a central computer (like a data storage computer – but not technically a “server”). My reason is to be able to backup all their settings each night, and to have a quick way to restore their profile if their machine dies.
I have read and figured out how to do this by editing the registry key UserShellFolders. I don this while logged in as the administrator, not the user.
However, when I change all keys to the UNC path, it doesn’t work. It acts like it can’t find the profile on the LAN and it loads the default profile.
But when I only change certain keys like DESKTOP, PERSONAL, COOKIES, etc. it works ok.
Keys like LOCAL SETTINGS, CACHE, and others cause an error after login because it claims it can’t find the user profile across the LAN.
I would like answers on why it doesn’t work when all keys are changed, and I would also like advice and recommendations if there is a better way to do this?
If and when they upgrade to a domain controller, are their profiles stored on the DC automatically, or would I want to do this also on a domain?
Thanks for your help.