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Moving users to another machine

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7 replies

by tardcart

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I have ten thin users that connect to my PDC via TS and I'm wanting to move them to a different server. Both run 2003 Standard. Is there an easy way to do it without having to log them into the new server first and copy everything over?

7 replies

by tardcart

I'm not trying to move them from one DC or domain to another. I want to move the user folder for "Jim" in the documents and setting folder to a different machine and have it be accessible when "Jim" logs in.

The way I have my thin clients set up now they automatically login and establish a RDP connection, so the first thing the user sees is the login screen on the server. I'm wanting to move the user folders so when I change the RDP connection to the new server everything will be like it was on the old one.

by shasca

Yep that isn't the right link for the right tool. I have seen exactly what you are talking about as a migration wizard. I didn't read as closely as I should of on that utility. There is one out there though.

by tardcart

That might do the trick. If not, I found where the reg keys are for user profiles. I compared mine on two different machines and with the exception of a couple DWORDs (OptimizedLogonStatus, ProfileLoadTimeHigh and ProfileLoadTimeLow) they are identical. I imagine I can copy the folders and the reg keys to the new machine and that should do it.

by tardcart

Just thought I'd update. The USMT is a wash. When you try to run scanstate on 2003 it doesn't recognize it as an internal or external command.

The workaround is simple.

Copy the users folder to the new machine. I zipped, moved, unzipped straight into the documents and settings folder of the new machine.

Open regedit on the source machine and navigate to HKLM->Software->Microsoft->Windows NT->CurrentVersion->ProfileList. Once there you can start clicking on the Keys to find the ones you want. Look at the "ProfileImagePath" value, it'll tell you what user the key is for. Export the keys for each user you want to move. Copy them to the new machine and migrate them into registry.

Done. Works like a charm.

Something else you can do with these keys is change where your docs and settings are on your PC. You can copy your user folder to a different drive or partition and modify that "ProfileImagePath" to point to it. Could come in pretty handy when your C:\ drive bites it.

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