Have all users use the same profile

[Jordan]

I have most users setup with Roaming Profiles, however on some stations we
use for product testing I have them setup for local profiles only via GP.
On some stations I would like to take this one step further and force
everyone to use a specific profile. Is that possible with GP?

[John John - MVP]

Post by Jordan
I have most users setup with Roaming Profiles, however on some stations we
use for product testing I have them setup for local profiles only via GP.
On some stations I would like to take this one step further and force
everyone to use a specific profile. Is that possible with GP?

As in all share the same profile while using different usernames and
passwords to log on? You will have to resort to third party utilities
for this... or modify their ProfileImagePath under their SIDs at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList and point
them all to the same profile folder.

John

[Jordan]

I believe I can write something to change it, but that would only be after
they had logged in at least once on that machine. Do you know of a third
party utility?

Post by John John - MVP

Post by Jordan
I have most users setup with Roaming Profiles, however on some stations
we use for product testing I have them setup for local profiles only via
GP. On some stations I would like to take this one step further and force
everyone to use a specific profile. Is that possible with GP?

As in all share the same profile while using different usernames and
passwords to log on? You will have to resort to third party utilities for
this... or modify their ProfileImagePath under their SIDs at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList and point
them all to the same profile folder.
John

[John John - MVP]

http://www.forensit.com/

John

Post by Jordan
I believe I can write something to change it, but that would only be after
they had logged in at least once on that machine. Do you know of a third
party utility?

Post by John John - MVP

Post by Jordan
I have most users setup with Roaming Profiles, however on some stations
we use for product testing I have them setup for local profiles only via
GP. On some stations I would like to take this one step further and force
everyone to use a specific profile. Is that possible with GP?

As in all share the same profile while using different usernames and
passwords to log on? You will have to resort to third party utilities for
this... or modify their ProfileImagePath under their SIDs at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList and point
them all to the same profile folder.
John

[John John - MVP]

If you decide to change the ProfileImagePath don't forget to give them
the necessary permissions on the folder, typically only Administrators,
System and User for which the profile was created have permissions on
the profile folder. If you point other users to this folder without
granting them permissions the system will throw an error and log them on
with a temporary profile.

John

Post by Jordan
I believe I can write something to change it, but that would only be after
they had logged in at least once on that machine. Do you know of a third
party utility?

Post by John John - MVP

Post by Jordan
I have most users setup with Roaming Profiles, however on some stations
we use for product testing I have them setup for local profiles only via
GP. On some stations I would like to take this one step further and force
everyone to use a specific profile. Is that possible with GP?

As in all share the same profile while using different usernames and
passwords to log on? You will have to resort to third party utilities for
this... or modify their ProfileImagePath under their SIDs at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList and point
them all to the same profile folder.
John

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Jordan" <***@here.com>

| I believe I can write something to change it, but that would only be after
| they had logged in at least once on that machine. Do you know of a third
| party utility?

Why not setup a user and export it to the Default User and thus when new user's logon they
inherit the Default User settings ?

[Jordan]

We have several programs that store settings like last configurations and
stuff in HKCU and if we do that, each user will have their own. Then there
are things like recent docs, and default locations for My Documents and such
where we want anyone on that machine to be able to pull up where someone
left off.

I know it would be just easier if I just had users log in with the same
account however some of the programs we have on this station log information
to a database that captures the users login name and we need that
information as well.

Post by David H. Lipman
| I believe I can write something to change it, but that would only be after
| they had logged in at least once on that machine. Do you know of a third
| party utility?
Why not setup a user and export it to the Default User and thus when new user's logon they
inherit the Default User settings ?
--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Jordan" <***@here.com>

| We have several programs that store settings like last configurations and
| stuff in HKCU and if we do that, each user will have their own. Then there
| are things like recent docs, and default locations for My Documents and such
| where we want anyone on that machine to be able to pull up where someone
| left off.

| I know it would be just easier if I just had users log in with the same
| account however some of the programs we have on this station log information
| to a database that captures the users login name and we need that
| information as well.


Capice - Gratzi!

[Mark Heitbrink [MVP]]

Hi,

Post by Jordan
On some stations I would like to take this one step further and force
everyone to use a specific profile. Is that possible with GP?

Yes,
- Serverbased Profiles, pointing to the same UNC Path
- make it mandatory
- deactivate Profile Owner Cheking
CompConf\AdmTempl\System\Profiles
- Delete Roaming Cached PRofiles at logoff
- define all settings you want to apply user-specific via GPO
because the user can not write it himself, like disable XP Tour,
screensaver, desklayout etc.

http://blogs.sepago.de/helge/2009/02/17/mandatory-profiles-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

Mark