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Roaming Profile creating large prf.tmp files on one users desktop

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Michael Collins

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Apr 28, 2008, 2:15:02 PM4/28/08

One of my clients has a small office with about 5 Workstations/Laptops and a
dell Sertver with Windows SBS 2003. All of the users have roaming profiles
since they all use all of the Workstations laptops in the office. One of the
users is having issues with these large prf.tmp files beingcreated on his
desktop when he logs on and off. I have already tried recreating his
profile, that did not work. I have also removerd google desktop which I read
could cause the issue, that also did not work. I have removed the profile
folder from the Veritas backup job on the Server, this did not help either.
I have removed the profile folder on the Server and workstation from being
scanned by the Anti-Virus software (Symantec Coporate). The jury is still
out on whether this will resolve the issue or not. Has anyone else seen this
before and does anyone know how to resolve the issue? I have been unable to
find any additional info on this particular issue, any help with this would
be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Michael Collins
Network Consultant

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

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Apr 28, 2008, 3:46:00 PM4/28/08

Not sure, but if you're using roaming profiles, you need to use folder
redirection for my documents/desktop/app data or you will have problems
galore. I'm including my standard boilerplate on roaming profiles, below.
Compare & contrast with your setup.

---
********************
General tips:

1. Set up a share on the server. For example - d:\profiles, shared as
profiles$ to make it hidden from browsing. Make sure this share is *not* set
to allow offline files/caching! (that's on by default - disable it)

2. Make sure the share permissions on profiles$ indicate everyone=full
control. Set the NTFS security to administrators, system, and users=full
control.

3. In the users' ADUC properties, specify \\server\profiles$\%username% in
the profiles field

4. Have each user log into the domain once - if this is an existing user
with a profile you wish to keep, have them log in at their usual
workstationand log out. The profile is now roaming.

5. If you want the administrators group to automatically have permissions to
the profiles folders, you'll need to make the appropriate change in group
policy. Look in computer configuration/administrative templates/system/user
profiles - there's an option to add administrators group to the roaming
profiles permissions. Do this *before* the users' roaming profile folders
are created - it isn't retroactive.

********************
Notes:

Make sure users understand that they should not log into multiple computers
at the same time when they have roaming profiles (unless you make the
profiles mandatory by renaming ntuser.dat to ntuser.man so they can't change
them, which has major disadvantages),. Explain that the 'last one out wins'
when it comes to uploading the final, changed copy of the profile. If you
want to restrict multiple simultaneous network logins, look at LimitLogon
(too much overhead for me), or this:
http://www.jsifaq.com/SF/Tips/Tip.aspx?id=8768

********************
Keep your profiles TINY. Via group policy, you should be redirecting My
Documents (at the very least) - to a subfolder of the user's home directory
or user folder. Also consider redirecting Desktop & Application Data
similarly..... so the user will end up with:

\\server\users\%username%\My Documents,
\\server\users\%username%\Desktop,
\\server\users\%username%\Application Data.

[Alternatively, just manually re-target My Documents to
\\server\users\%username% (this is not optimal, however!)]

You should use folder redirection even without roaming profiles, but it's
especially critical if you *are* using them.

If you aren't going to also redirect the desktop using policies, tell users
that they are not to store any files on the desktop or you will beat them
with a
stick. Big profile=slow login/logout, and possible profile corruption.

********************
Note that user profiles are not compatible between different OS versions,
even between W2k/XP. Keep all your computers. Keep your workstations as
identical as possible - meaning, OS version is the same, SP level is the
same, app load is (as much as possible) the same.

*********************
If you also have Terminal Services users, make sure you set up a different
TS profile path for them in their ADUC properties - e.g.,
\\server\tsprofiles$\%username%

********************
Do not let people store any data locally - all data belongs on the server.

********************
The User Profile Hive Cleanup Utility should be running on all your
computers. You can download it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

********************
Roaming profile & folder redirection article -
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html

Terence Liu [MSFT]

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Apr 30, 2008, 5:18:46 AM4/30/08

Hello Michael,

Thank you for posting here. Let's also thank Lanwench for the good sharing.

According to your description, I understand that you get multiple prf*.tmp
files on one user's desktop when you enable roaming profile for it. If I
have misunderstood the problem, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Based on my research, this problem may occur if the Indexing service or
some other process (such as an open file agent) has opened the indicated
temporary file during profile synchronization. If so, the temporary file is
not deleted. It is uploaded with the roaming profile when you log off and
reconciled to the local profile when you log on again.

Although antivirus software may also cause this problem, the impact is
likely to be minimal because there are fewer file operations for such
processes than for Indexing and open file agents.

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods:

Turn off the software or the service that is in conflict with the profile
engine.
-or-
Exclude profile folders from the conflicting operational scan or monitor
functionality.

For more information, please refer to the following KB:

Roaming Profile Accumulates Extra .tmp Files
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=328607

I hope these steps will give you some help.

Thanks and have a nice day!

Best regards,

Terence Liu(MSFT)

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