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AR15.COM
1/29/2004 4:28:15 AM EDT
We have many computers here with 20+ people set up on them- profiles-settings-printers-mail-etc.  when they get a new PC I have to set thaem ALL up again individually-which takes FOREVER.  

Is there a way to copy over these users (after ghosting or new windows install) so that I dont have to do all this?  Can I just copy thier personal profiles ofer form the "documents and settings folder on the old PC?  We are looking at roaming profiles, but have had mixed results- looking for other ways.

Thx.
1/29/2004 5:01:52 AM EDT
[#1]
You can set up the PC so that it does not require them to put in a UserID when they turn on the local machine.  However, everything would be under one profile no matter how many users.  Sucky security on all fronts as well.

I'm on a mixed network.  Windows clients (98, XP, 2K) and Novell/Windows servers.  Not a Windows Domain.  I have to create a local profile for every person that will use that machine. Then I just copy over their documents.  It doesn't take too long, depending on how much traffic is running across the LAN at the time and how much data the user has on their PC.  I make their local userid match the network ID and they both synch up so the user doesn't have to enter in a password for Netware and then for the local machine.

If you have the Corp edition of Ghost and have a good deal of bandwith, I believe there is a way to back up and move personal data.  It's been awhile since I have used it, but check your docs.  It was a feature on only the latest versions of the program.  However, you will still need to use the user tools to generate the new profile first.
1/29/2004 5:16:23 AM EDT
[#2]
PowerQuest Migration Manager looks like it will do this. I have not tried it. There should also be some free ones out there. Our new IBM's(corp replacements) come with System Migration Assistant which is free since we bought IBM's.


ByteTheBullet  (-:
1/29/2004 5:18:28 AM EDT
[#3]
all our users authenticate to the server-not the PC, but profile still in docs/settings.  not having a logon is not an option-security risk is too great-everyone MUST log in.  
1/29/2004 5:52:23 AM EDT
[#4]
roaming profiles sir
1/29/2004 6:36:26 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
roaming profiles sir
View Quote


This man has the answer.

By using roaming profiles, you users will receive the same profile settings, including desktop background, regardless of which computer they use.  This will allow you to give a user a freshly installed machine, and let their roaming profile populate their "my documents", desktop background, email profile, and everything else.
1/29/2004 6:46:07 AM EDT
[#6]
This would be fine until your WAN reaches across many states and the user has to wait many minutes to recieve his/her profile.


ByteTheBullet  (-:
1/29/2004 7:41:28 AM EDT
[#7]
Roaming profiles.  Make sure to set up policies so they cannot save files to the desktop.  That way, the a copy of whatever they put on the desktop(could be hundreds of megs) aren't copied everywhere they go.  They can live with putting their files in My Documents.  Should be pretty lean this way.
1/29/2004 8:25:49 AM EDT
[#8]
We also use roaming profiles.  There are ways to redirect all the huge files the idiots might save into their profile to other places (like "My Documents" can be redirected onto the home drive space).  We have been using roaming profiles for years on a very slow network and they are great.

GunLvr
1/29/2004 9:06:06 AM EDT
[#9]
Right.  The home drive AND profiles need to reside on the network.
1/29/2004 10:10:04 AM EDT
[#10]
We also use roaming profiles. There are ways to redirect all the huge files the idiots might save into their profile to other places (like "My Documents" can be redirected onto the home drive space). We have been using roaming profiles for years on a very slow network and they are great.
View Quote


Roaming profiles are a good solution the only concern is if you have a bunch of people log onto the network at one time or over a short period of time the increased network traffic can bring a slow network (or a fast one depending on the number of users) to it knees.
1/29/2004 11:02:00 AM EDT
[#11]
A dual giga-nic server on the back-bone would alleviate some of the congestion if tons of people all logged in at the same time. :)
1/29/2004 11:29:56 AM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
We also use roaming profiles. There are ways to redirect all the huge files the idiots might save into their profile to other places (like "My Documents" can be redirected onto the home drive space). We have been using roaming profiles for years on a very slow network and they are great.
View Quote


Roaming profiles are a good solution the only concern is if you have a bunch of people log onto the network at one time or over a short period of time the increased network traffic can bring a slow network (or a fast one depending on the number of users) to it knees.
View Quote


That is only a serious concern if all these users are logging onto machines that they have never used before, and thus need to build their profile over the network from scratch.  On Windows 2000/2003 networks, only changed items will be copied back and forth to the server, and if the users are using the same machine as the last time they logged on, the local and remote profile is the same and no network traffic is required to load their profile.

Of course, if this is a Windows 2000/2003 domain, you can incorporte roaming profile with various group policy elements, so that their desktop is locked down by default, but yet certain documents are always redirected based either on user names or group memberships.
1/29/2004 11:56:14 AM EDT
[#13]
we have lots of giga /fiber and copper but only 100 to workstations into cisco switches.  should be able to hande it