Data that Matters

Archives

Topical Collections

Sponsors

Link2Me Link Exchange Directory -
The Best Link Exchange for SEO Professionals

Practice Exams-Offers simulation software for a verity of technology certifications.

Miscellaneous

DATE:  23-June-2008
Filed under: MCSE MCSA
Certification: 70-270
Skill Requirement: Configure and Manage User Profiles

Local, Roaming, and Mandatory Profiles

User profiles are used to store Desktop configurations like user Desktop arrangements, programs and program groups, network and printer connections, Desktop wallpaper and schemes, mouse and other preferences.

User profiles are stored on the local machine by default, but can be stored on the network as roaming profiles, or if you want to set work group computers with the same look and settings you can set mandatory profiles.

Profiles regardless of the type include settings and preferences for Windows Explorer, Control Panel, Printer settings, Taskbar, Accessories, Online Help bookmarks, and Windows based applications. Preferences like the view of Windows Explorer, mapped network drives, Screen appearance, accessibility options, program items and their properties, command prompt, and Notepad preferences.

The first time a user signs on the user receives a default user profile. User profiles are stored in a Dat file named NTUSER. NTUSER files can be found in each user’s login folder. The path in Windows XP is Document and Settings / user name.

The draw-back of local user profiles is that they are only available on the computer where they were created.

Roaming Profiles

Roaming profiles are stored on a network server and can be accessed from any computer that is joined to the network. Roaming profiles provide a consistent Desktop and settings for those users who move around from machine to machine.

Mandatory Profiles

Mandatory Profiles allow Administrators to set specific and consistent settings for users and groups. With Mandatory Profiles, although users can make changes to their settings the settings are not saved. Mandatory Profiles are great for easing support issues and like I mentioned they allow the system administrator to use consistent settings for a workgroup .

Mandatory Profiles are created simply by changing the .dat extension of the profile file to .man. To work properly mandatory like roaming profiles must be configured on a server.

Additional Resources

How to check user profiles on a Windows XP-based computer
How to Create and Copy Roaming User Profiles in Windows XP
Step by Step Roaming Profiles Configuration
How to assign a mandatory user profile in Windows XP