Hi Andy,
For offline files to work, you need:
- Offline files enabled on the Share where the My Documents folders are
stored. It is enabled by default, but sometimes disabled for example for a
Profiles folder
- Offline Files not disabled by Policy
- In Windows XP, Redirected folders are automatically made available
offline, so you don't need to do anything else to make them available. I
don't know what you mean by enabled not at the root but at a sub folder.
What setting are you referring to?
I don't think it is a Redirection problem. Folders are either redirected or
not, and if not you will see an error in the log. There is a behaviour where
if it can't find a folder it will simulate a new one in the profile, which
sounds as though it is what you are experiencing, but I can't find the
reference to that at the moment.
I would try checking whether your Offline Files is working correctly. Check
the settings above, and also try to manually synchronize. Over the VPN the
client should prefer to use the local cached copy, but it should still be
able to see the network folder, and to synchronize it if asked,
Anthony,
http://www.airdesk.com
Post by Andrew StoryHi Anthony,
I tried to find the key you mentioned here
- HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- "SyncForegroundPolicy"=dword:00000001
I couldn't locate it though, the part I've marked with asterix's was not
there on 2 seperate machines I checked, although by ignoring that
'policies' part of the path the rest was present, so I've added the key
you suggested to my own machine and will see if OK via VPN.
HKLM\Software\****Policies****\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- "SyncForegroundPolicy"=dword:00000001
For your reply below, just so I've got it right.
Our entire organisation uses folder redirection, whether desk based or
remote users. The remote users use offline files to access their
redirected 'my documents' folder offline. On occasion the 'my documents'
folder that should be redirected restets back to the default location
c:\documents and settings\etc etc. Running RSOP shows the policy is in
place and applied, running gpresult shows that you can physicaly apply the
user policies successfully remotely (I was making a mistake early that led
me down the garden path thinking they weren't). All other policies work
flawlessly offline apart from the odd occassion when my documents resets
itself for remote users.
Sorry if I drone on a bit (just want to get my facts correct). Does your
response mean that it is offline files that may be not working correctly?
If so, how can I stop users home directories resetting (randomly) when
they are away from the office? They have offline files enabled (not at
the 'my documents' root, but a sub folder) and the folder redirection
policy is definitely 'there'
Thanks again, Andy
Post by Anthony [MVP]Andy,
The first error is because the computer is not connecetd to the domain
when it starts up. That's not a problem.
The Redirection policy is not dynamic in the way you are thinking. It
puts the folder in a different location and that's it. It is Offline
Files that make the redirected folder accessible off the network.
Anthony,
http://www.airdesk.com
Post by Andrew StoryHello Anthony, thanks for your reply.
I'll try what you advise below.
There are errors in event viewer, but I assumed these would be for
before the user makes a VPN connection to the network. The errors are
Event ID 1054 Userenv
Windows cannot obtain the domain controller name for your computer
network. (The specified domain either does not exist or could not be
contacted. ). Group Policy processing aborted.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
The path for my docs changes for remote users only randomly when they
are working remotely only (desk based users do not have this issue),
I've always assumed that policies would be cached? On a problem user my
documents has reset back to the default location in the users local
profile (c:\documents and setting\username\etc etc), then I have to get
the users machine physically on a site on site to connect to the network
directly to reset this back to what my GPO sets it too
(\\servername\share)
I'm at a loss as to why this is happenning but will try your suggesstion
and post back once I've tested it out.
Thanks, Andy
Post by Anthony [MVP]You will need to make the "Always wait for the network" setting
directly in the registry.
- HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- "SyncForegroundPolicy"=dword:00000001
I am not sure about the "at random" bit of your question. Folder
redirection actually moves the files to a different location and that's
where they are until moved somewhere else. When you get the problem,
- what Redirection or Userenv errors do you have in the event log?
- What is the location shown in My Documents right-click Properties?
Anthony,
http://www.airdesk.co.uk
Post by Andrew StoryAnyone?? :)
Post by Andrew StoryHello NG - Windows 2000 server, Windows XP clients
I seem to be having the same issue at random times that affects the
same type of user, remote users.
I use GP to redirect my docs to a server share, works great for my
desk based staff using workstations. However, I have a large base of
remote users who connect via vpn and can be away from the office for
extended periods, using offline files. This folder redirection seems
to work for a while, then at random will reset the my documents
location to the default location in the user local profile.
I have slow link detection on both the user and computer policies to
0 kbps and after comparing a desk based users GPO by running
"gpresult /USER username /V >C:\outputl.log" the desk based user
configuration is 0 kbps, the remote user with the issue is 500 kbps.
I've read an article and fast logons with XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305293 but I don't get the errors on
any machine, also it involves logging on twice to resolve, but if
they are remote then it won't process until they are connected via
VPN.
Can anyone help please with folder redirection and remote users?