migrate local user profiles to a new terminal server session

[Guest Jorge R]

We are in the process of deploying a new terminal server, the challenge is to

migrate the user profile from the local workstations to the terminal server

user profiles, to minimize changes in the user community. There was no

terminal server before, so the user profiles all are on the local machines

running either Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2000 Pro SP4. The domain is a

Windows 2003 Active directory.

 

Any help on how to automate this will be greatly appreciated.

[Guest Jeff Pitsch]

Re: migrate local user profiles to a new terminal server session

 

I cannot recommend highly enough to NOT do this. Workstation profiles

are not designed for use in terminal services. They typically contain

settings that are not compatible. There is also the fact that you are

moving form one OS to the other which will cause it's on problems. In

the end what you'll end up with is an unstable server(s) and very very

unhappy customers.

 

Start over from scratch as this will enable you to develop a stable and

more secure environment.

 

Jeff Pitsch

Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

Citrix Technology Professional

Provision Networks VIP

 

Forums not enough?

Get support from the experts at your business

http://jeffpitschconsulting.com

 

Jorge R wrote:

> We are in the process of deploying a new terminal server, the challenge is to

> migrate the user profile from the local workstations to the terminal server

> user profiles, to minimize changes in the user community. There was no

> terminal server before, so the user profiles all are on the local machines

> running either Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2000 Pro SP4. The domain is a

> Windows 2003 Active directory.

>

> Any help on how to automate this will be greatly appreciated.

[Guest Helge Klein]

Re: migrate local user profiles to a new terminal server session

 

Generally speaking user profiles should not be migrated from

Workstations to Terminal Servers. That is because in most cases

installation paths of programs will be different and/or network drives

mapped differently. That would cause:

 

- (Desktop) shortcuts to point to the wrong target

- Application configuration settings (in the registry or in INI or

similar files) to become invalid due to wrong paths or versions

- and others

 

So, all in all I do not recommend to migrate the profiles from your

Workstations to your TS.

 

Helge

 

On 12 Jul., 20:24, Jorge R <Jor...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> We are in the process of deploying a new terminal server, the challenge is to

> migrate the user profile from the local workstations to the terminal server

> user profiles, to minimize changes in the user community. There was no

> terminal server before, so the user profiles all are on the local machines

> running either Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2000 Pro SP4. The domain is a

> Windows 2003 Active directory.

>

> Any help on how to automate this will be greatly appreciated.

[Guest Jorge R]

Re: migrate local user profiles to a new terminal server session

 

The user community is concern about all the custom settings they have on

their profiles such as: Office custom dictionaries, signatures, etc. Outlook

settings, archive files. We understand that some items should not be

transfer.

 

"Helge Klein" wrote:

> Generally speaking user profiles should not be migrated from

> Workstations to Terminal Servers. That is because in most cases

> installation paths of programs will be different and/or network drives

> mapped differently. That would cause:

>

> - (Desktop) shortcuts to point to the wrong target

> - Application configuration settings (in the registry or in INI or

> similar files) to become invalid due to wrong paths or versions

> - and others

>

> So, all in all I do not recommend to migrate the profiles from your

> Workstations to your TS.

>

> Helge

>

> On 12 Jul., 20:24, Jorge R <Jor...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> > We are in the process of deploying a new terminal server, the challenge is to

> > migrate the user profile from the local workstations to the terminal server

> > user profiles, to minimize changes in the user community. There was no

> > terminal server before, so the user profiles all are on the local machines

> > running either Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2000 Pro SP4. The domain is a

> > Windows 2003 Active directory.

> >

> > Any help on how to automate this will be greatly appreciated.

>

>

>

[Guest Helge Klein]

Re: migrate local user profiles to a new terminal server session

 

In my opinion there is no easy answer to this. Depending on how much

work you are willing to do and how experienced your users are you can:

 

- Have your users move important files to their home directories

- Do the same with (logon or other) scripts and move them back on the

TS

 

Probably the best way would be to set up roaming profiles and use

(logon) scripts that move reg entries and files from the local

profiles on the Workstations to the roaming profiles on the file

server. When this is complete the users will find all important

settings and files in the TS profiles.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Helge

 

On 12 Jul., 22:44, Jorge R <Jor...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> The user community is concern about all the custom settings they have on

> their profiles such as: Office custom dictionaries, signatures, etc. Outlook

> settings, archive files. We understand that some items should not be

> transfer.

>

> "Helge Klein" wrote:

> > Generally speaking user profiles should not be migrated from

> > Workstations to Terminal Servers. That is because in most cases

> > installation paths of programs will be different and/or network drives

> > mapped differently. That would cause:

>

> > - (Desktop) shortcuts to point to the wrong target

> > - Application configuration settings (in the registry or in INI or

> > similar files) to become invalid due to wrong paths or versions

> > - and others

>

> > So, all in all I do not recommend to migrate the profiles from your

> > Workstations to your TS.

>

> > Helge

>

> > On 12 Jul., 20:24, Jorge R <Jor...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> > > We are in the process of deploying a new terminal server, the challenge is to

> > > migrate the user profile from the local workstations to the terminal server

> > > user profiles, to minimize changes in the user community. There was no

> > > terminal server before, so the user profiles all are on the local machines

> > > running either Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2000 Pro SP4. The domain is a

> > > Windows 2003 Active directory.

>

> > > Any help on how to automate this will be greatly appreciated.

[Guest Jeff Pitsch]

Re: migrate local user profiles to a new terminal server session

 

And you need to be concerned with the stability of the servers. What

use is getting all these profiles over if your servers and profiles are

getting corrupted and unstable? Chances are your going to be 'fixing'

most of these profiles by deleting/renaming them anyway. It can take

some work but your best bet would be to move those things you talked

about manually when moving users.

 

Jeff Pitsch

Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

Citrix Technology Professional

Provision Networks VIP

 

Forums not enough?

Get support from the experts at your business

http://jeffpitschconsulting.com

 

Jorge R wrote:

> The user community is concern about all the custom settings they have on

> their profiles such as: Office custom dictionaries, signatures, etc. Outlook

> settings, archive files. We understand that some items should not be

> transfer.

>

> "Helge Klein" wrote:

>

>> Generally speaking user profiles should not be migrated from

>> Workstations to Terminal Servers. That is because in most cases

>> installation paths of programs will be different and/or network drives

>> mapped differently. That would cause:

>>

>> - (Desktop) shortcuts to point to the wrong target

>> - Application configuration settings (in the registry or in INI or

>> similar files) to become invalid due to wrong paths or versions

>> - and others

>>

>> So, all in all I do not recommend to migrate the profiles from your

>> Workstations to your TS.

>>

>> Helge

>>

>> On 12 Jul., 20:24, Jorge R <Jor...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>>> We are in the process of deploying a new terminal server, the challenge is to

>>> migrate the user profile from the local workstations to the terminal server

>>> user profiles, to minimize changes in the user community. There was no

>>> terminal server before, so the user profiles all are on the local machines

>>> running either Windows XP SP2 or Windows 2000 Pro SP4. The domain is a

>>> Windows 2003 Active directory.

>>>

>>> Any help on how to automate this will be greatly appreciated.

>>

>>