Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

[Guest SonOfPirate]

I am in the process of downgrading my home office and no longer need my

computers to be part of a domain. I'd like to remove them from the domain

but do not want to lose my user profile in the process. If I remember

correctly, when the computer is added to a domain, a new profile is created

so I am assuming the same thing will happen when I remove it.

 

I read a suggestion that I should manually create a local user and copy the

domain profile using Control Panel - System - Advanced - User Profiles - Copy

To button (after rebooting and logging in as Administrator) but the button is

always grayed out (disabled).

 

Even with this, I'm not confident that this will persist the entire profile.

I'd like to be able to simply remove the computer from the domain and have

use of it as if nothing changed - i.e. same wallpaper, desktop icons,

favorites, my docs, e-mail settings, etc.

 

Any suggestions?

[Guest David H. Lipman]

Re: Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

 

From: "SonOfPirate" <SonOfPirate@discussions.microsoft.com>

 

| I am in the process of downgrading my home office and no longer need my

| computers to be part of a domain. I'd like to remove them from the domain

| but do not want to lose my user profile in the process. If I remember

| correctly, when the computer is added to a domain, a new profile is created

| so I am assuming the same thing will happen when I remove it.

 

| I read a suggestion that I should manually create a local user and copy the

| domain profile using Control Panel - System - Advanced - User Profiles - Copy

| To button (after rebooting and logging in as Administrator) but the button is

| always grayed out (disabled).

 

| Even with this, I'm not confident that this will persist the entire profile.

| I'd like to be able to simply remove the computer from the domain and have

| use of it as if nothing changed - i.e. same wallpaper, desktop icons,

| favorites, my docs, e-mail settings, etc.

 

| Any suggestions?

 

A Domain based profile is tied to the Domain created SID.

 

You will have to create a local, non-Domain, account and logon to that account then reboot

the PC. Then using a different account, with administrative rights, copy the data from

the Domain account profile data to the local account profile.

 

--

Dave

http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html

Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

[Guest pcbutts1 [MS MVP]]

Re: Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

 

It is grayed out because, the way you described it, the system does/will not

see the domain account profile it may say something like account unknown if

it does. What you need to do is first create the local user account you want

to use by logging into that account. Log in again as the local admin and

manually copy everything from the documents and settings\domain account

folder to the local user folder, copy everything except the 2 ntuser.XXX

files. Do a select all cut and paste. Make sure your system is set to show

hidden files. You will have to reset your desktop wallpaper because that

will not stay.

 

 

 

--

 

Newsgroup Trolls. Read about mine here http://www.pcbutts1.com/downloads

The list grows. Leythos the stalker http://www.leythosthestalker.com, David

H. Lipman, Max M Wachtell III aka What's in a Name?, Fitz, Beauregard T.

Shagnasty,Rhonda Lea Kirk, Meat Plow, F Kwatu F, George Orwell

 

 

 

 

"SonOfPirate" <SonOfPirate@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:4BC52A7F-B963-4007-8B04-68F4A318A0E9@microsoft.com...

>I am in the process of downgrading my home office and no longer need my

> computers to be part of a domain. I'd like to remove them from the domain

> but do not want to lose my user profile in the process. If I remember

> correctly, when the computer is added to a domain, a new profile is

> created

> so I am assuming the same thing will happen when I remove it.

>

> I read a suggestion that I should manually create a local user and copy

> the

> domain profile using Control Panel - System - Advanced - User Profiles -

> Copy

> To button (after rebooting and logging in as Administrator) but the button

> is

> always grayed out (disabled).

>

> Even with this, I'm not confident that this will persist the entire

> profile.

> I'd like to be able to simply remove the computer from the domain and have

> use of it as if nothing changed - i.e. same wallpaper, desktop icons,

> favorites, my docs, e-mail settings, etc.

>

> Any suggestions?

[Guest SonOfPirate]

Re: Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

 

I did create the local account and logged in to make sure it created the

profile before rebooting and logging in as the local Administrator. That's

when I was finding the "Copy To" button disabled. But, it sounds like you

are saying that is expected??? So manually moving the Docs & Settings folder

is my only option?

 

 

"pcbutts1 [MS MVP]" wrote:

> It is grayed out because, the way you described it, the system does/will not

> see the domain account profile it may say something like account unknown if

> it does. What you need to do is first create the local user account you want

> to use by logging into that account. Log in again as the local admin and

> manually copy everything from the documents and settings\domain account

> folder to the local user folder, copy everything except the 2 ntuser.XXX

> files. Do a select all cut and paste. Make sure your system is set to show

> hidden files. You will have to reset your desktop wallpaper because that

> will not stay.

>

>

>

> --

>

> Newsgroup Trolls. Read about mine here http://www.pcbutts1.com/downloads

> The list grows. Leythos the stalker http://www.leythosthestalker.com, David

> H. Lipman, Max M Wachtell III aka What's in a Name?, Fitz, Beauregard T.

> Shagnasty,Rhonda Lea Kirk, Meat Plow, F Kwatu F, George Orwell

>

>

>

>

> "SonOfPirate" <SonOfPirate@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:4BC52A7F-B963-4007-8B04-68F4A318A0E9@microsoft.com...

> >I am in the process of downgrading my home office and no longer need my

> > computers to be part of a domain. I'd like to remove them from the domain

> > but do not want to lose my user profile in the process. If I remember

> > correctly, when the computer is added to a domain, a new profile is

> > created

> > so I am assuming the same thing will happen when I remove it.

> >

> > I read a suggestion that I should manually create a local user and copy

> > the

> > domain profile using Control Panel - System - Advanced - User Profiles -

> > Copy

> > To button (after rebooting and logging in as Administrator) but the button

> > is

> > always grayed out (disabled).

> >

> > Even with this, I'm not confident that this will persist the entire

> > profile.

> > I'd like to be able to simply remove the computer from the domain and have

> > use of it as if nothing changed - i.e. same wallpaper, desktop icons,

> > favorites, my docs, e-mail settings, etc.

> >

> > Any suggestions?

>

>

[Guest pcbutts1 [MS MVP]]

Re: Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

 

Yes that behavior is by design. Do not copy the documents and settings

folder, you have to copy the files and folders inside the domain account

folder that is inside the documents and settings folder.

 

 

--

 

Newsgroup Trolls. Read about mine here http://www.pcbutts1.com/downloads

The list grows. Leythos the stalker http://www.leythosthestalker.com, David

H. Lipman, Max M Wachtell III aka What's in a Name?, Fitz, Beauregard T.

Shagnasty,Rhonda Lea Kirk, Meat Plow, F Kwatu F, George Orwell

 

 

 

 

"SonOfPirate" <SonOfPirate@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:586EEA70-0AEC-4771-A34B-1EB299090F34@microsoft.com...

>I did create the local account and logged in to make sure it created the

> profile before rebooting and logging in as the local Administrator.

> That's

> when I was finding the "Copy To" button disabled. But, it sounds like you

> are saying that is expected??? So manually moving the Docs & Settings

> folder

> is my only option?

>

>

> "pcbutts1 [MS MVP]" wrote:

>

>> It is grayed out because, the way you described it, the system does/will

>> not

>> see the domain account profile it may say something like account unknown

>> if

>> it does. What you need to do is first create the local user account you

>> want

>> to use by logging into that account. Log in again as the local admin and

>> manually copy everything from the documents and settings\domain account

>> folder to the local user folder, copy everything except the 2 ntuser.XXX

>> files. Do a select all cut and paste. Make sure your system is set to

>> show

>> hidden files. You will have to reset your desktop wallpaper because that

>> will not stay.

>>

>>

>>

>> --

>>

>> Newsgroup Trolls. Read about mine here http://www.pcbutts1.com/downloads

>> The list grows. Leythos the stalker http://www.leythosthestalker.com,

>> David

>> H. Lipman, Max M Wachtell III aka What's in a Name?, Fitz, Beauregard T.

>> Shagnasty,Rhonda Lea Kirk, Meat Plow, F Kwatu F, George Orwell

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> "SonOfPirate" <SonOfPirate@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:4BC52A7F-B963-4007-8B04-68F4A318A0E9@microsoft.com...

>> >I am in the process of downgrading my home office and no longer need my

>> > computers to be part of a domain. I'd like to remove them from the

>> > domain

>> > but do not want to lose my user profile in the process. If I remember

>> > correctly, when the computer is added to a domain, a new profile is

>> > created

>> > so I am assuming the same thing will happen when I remove it.

>> >

>> > I read a suggestion that I should manually create a local user and copy

>> > the

>> > domain profile using Control Panel - System - Advanced - User

>> > Profiles -

>> > Copy

>> > To button (after rebooting and logging in as Administrator) but the

>> > button

>> > is

>> > always grayed out (disabled).

>> >

>> > Even with this, I'm not confident that this will persist the entire

>> > profile.

>> > I'd like to be able to simply remove the computer from the domain and

>> > have

>> > use of it as if nothing changed - i.e. same wallpaper, desktop icons,

>> > favorites, my docs, e-mail settings, etc.

>> >

>> > Any suggestions?

>>

>>

[Guest Anteaus]

RE: Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

 

Rename the profile folder (as Administrator) before taking the computer out

of the domain.

 

Then, create a local user (with exact same name) and logon once as the new

local user

 

Logoff and back on as local Administrator.

 

Delete the unwanted new profile-folder.

 

Rename the original folder back in its place.

 

Change its permissions.

 

 

"SonOfPirate" wrote:

> I am in the process of downgrading my home office and no longer need my

> computers to be part of a domain. I'd like to remove them from the domain

> but do not want to lose my user profile in the process.

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

 

SonOfPirate <SonOfPirate@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I am in the process of downgrading my home office and no longer need

> my computers to be part of a domain. I'd like to remove them from

> the domain but do not want to lose my user profile in the process.

> If I remember correctly, when the computer is added to a domain, a

> new profile is created so I am assuming the same thing will happen

> when I remove it.

>

> I read a suggestion that I should manually create a local user and

> copy the domain profile using Control Panel - System - Advanced -

> User Profiles - Copy To button (after rebooting and logging in as

> Administrator) but the button is always grayed out (disabled).

>

> Even with this, I'm not confident that this will persist the entire

> profile. I'd like to be able to simply remove the computer from the

> domain and have use of it as if nothing changed - i.e. same

> wallpaper, desktop icons, favorites, my docs, e-mail settings, etc.

>

> Any suggestions?

 

This is usually pretty easy.

 

While the computer is still in the domain, create a local user account.

Log in as the local user account and log out.

Log back in as any account with admin rights (but *not* the domain user in

question!)

Go to control panel, system, advanced....in User Profiles, click the

Settings button

Select the domain user's profile, click on Copy To, and browse to the new

local user's c:\documents and settings\username folder.

Click OK.

Click the Change button in Permitted to use and select either the

domain\username account you just copied, or Everyone

Close out.

 

Log in as the local user and make sure the settings look right. If so, you

should be good to go...disjoin the computer from the domain, making sure you

know the local admin credentials just in case something goes awry.

 

** If the Copy To button is grayed out, try downloading/installing the MS

User Profile Hive Cleanup tool and reboot, then log in as the admin

[Guest SonOfPirate]

RE: Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

 

Okay, took a bit to try each of the suggestions. End result... NONE OF THEM

WORKED!!!

 

When I followed the path suggested by pcbutts1, I am able to get all of my

documents, etc. that were contained in the original My Documents folder for

the domain user but NONE of the settings persisted. For instance, when I

fired up Outlook for the first time as the local user it launched the startup

wizard as if it had never been run before. I expected to have my accounts,

address books, rules, feeds, etc. all there as if nothing had changed.

 

Next I tried Anteaus' suggestion which was a total failure. Obviously the

SID is maintained elsewhere so when I log back in as the local user after

replacing the profile folder, it can't match it up so it ended up creating

yet another profile folder under Docs & Settings!

 

Finally, I thought a combination of the two might work. I used Anteaus'

suggest except I copied the NTUser.* files from the new local profile into

the old folder before renaming it. This still didn't work.

 

Looking deeper into the problem now, I see that the original solution was

the cleanest as far as getting the files and folders over to the new local

account. But, the NTUser.* files are the key to the rest of the problem.

These are the files that contain all the rest of the setting information,

preferences and so on that also need to be carried over. My understanding is

that this file is unique to the user and SID, which is why copying them

causes Windows to create a whole new profile folder. So, what I need is some

way to copy the contents of the NTUser.* files from one profile to another.

I am assuming that is the purpose of the "Copy To" function.

 

This brings me all the way back to the beginning. Copying the files and

folders contained within the Docs & Settings folders is not a problem. It is

the profile settings, the contents of the NTUser.* files, that need to be

carried over so that the user experiences no change when he logs in as a

local account from when he left the day before running on the domain.

 

What are my options?