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NT & XP roaming profiles

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by tcaswell

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Is there any way to use roaming user profiles in a mixed Windows NT and XP environment? We are using NT 4.0 servers, and would like to start to upgrade our client stations to XP, but due to funding restraints it will probably take two years to complete. In the meantime, we will need to run a mixed workstation environment.

I work for a K-12 school district in upstate Oswego, NY.

6 replies

by curlergirl

I don't see why there would be any problem with this. The only major difference between roaming profiles on NT and XP workstations is that the profile is stored locally on the workstation in a different place. The method of setting up roaming profiles on the server is generally the same. I would recommend just getting a single XP workstation (make sure it's XP Pro, of course) and test it out to see if the roaming profile works. That said, there might be some things an XP user would have setup as part of their profile that wouldn't run on an NT workstation (i.e., certain programs or program versions), so if an XP user logged on to an NT workstation, then those particular programs would not work. Or if they set up a desktop theme, wallpaper or screen saver of some sort that was available only in XP. These are the sorts of things you'd always have to watch out for in any mixed-desktop OS with roaming profiles. Hope this helps!

by bchesmer

From what research I've done, until you replace your NT servers (Or use a designated XP box to store them on) you won't be able to use roaming profiles on the XP boxes. Here's a link to a MS KBA, please remove the space after then semi-colon just before the article number after you cut & paste it into your browser.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314478

Post a comment back & let us know if you need more info.

by bchesmer

You may also want to look at this link (remember to remove the space after the semi-colon)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298713

My understanding is to do your roaming profiles, you must 1st upgrade your server(s) (ThePDC) to W2K server so you have the AD (Active Directory) componets nessacary for the XP boxes. Then, you can run the mixed enviorment. I'm not 100% on this, but that's what I have read until now.

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