Migration from workgroup to domain and keep users exising desktop

[Fletch Bowling]

Hi I am new to windows 2003/domains/ad etc. I am looking at perhaps
migrating from netware to 2003 and got a test server to try out. I
want to move staff over to it and see how it holds up compared to
novell 6.5. Our staff machines had a workgroup setup prior to this
test and we have never had a domain before now. When I join a machine
into the domain it basically creates a new desktop as it considers
johndoe from the local domain as a different person than johndoe from
the new ad domain on the server. Is there an easy way to keep their
existing desktop settings , etc?

Thanks,
Fletch

[Rebecca Chen [MSFT]]

Hi Fletch,

Yes, when you use the new AD user account to logon to the domain, the
system will create a new user profile. There are several methods to move
local user profiles:

Method 1: Moveuser.exe
=========================
The Windows 2003 Server Resource Kit has a tool "moveuser.exe" that will
re-associate a profile with another user account. It's specifically for
this scenario where you need to move a profile from local -> domain. One
thing to note is that this can't be done while the user is logged on. It
can however be done remotely so it could be scripted.

More details can be found in the following link:
Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9d467a69-57ff-4ae7-
96ee-b18c4790cffd&DisplayLang=en

Method 2: USMT
================
Use USMT - the user state migration tool. Note that this is for Windows
XP, so it won't help with NT 4.0 or Windows 2000. But it does point at the
direction of the future.
<<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/deployment/userstate/defau
lt.asp>>

For more information on USMT,
<http://search.microsoft.com/default.asp?qu=usmt> and click "go" to search.

Method 3: Copy the user profile
=========================
If manually copying profile is acceptable, you can use the Copy to function
to copy the local profile to domain user profile. Please use the following
steps:

1. Log the user onto the new domain once to create the his/her user
profile and to add the path to it in the ProfilesList registry key
2. Log off as the user and log in as an administrator
3. Copy the user's profile
4. Right click on My Computer and go to Profiles
5. Once in Profiles, use "Copy To," to copy the original profile to the
new profile's path. Also, use "Permitted to Use," to give the new user
account permission to use the copied profile.
6. Log off as the administrator and logon as the user

Note: You may find the copy to button is grayed out. If so, please refer to
the following article:

291555 The "Copy To" Button in the System Properties Dialog Box Is
Unavailable
<<http://support.microsoft.com/?id=291555>>

HTH!

Best regards,

Rebecca Chen

MCSE2000 MCDBA CCNA

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

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--------------------
>From: fle...@gmail.com (Fletch Bowling)
>Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.migration
>Subject: Migration from workgroup to domain and keep users exising desktop
>Date: 25 Oct 2004 13:27:42 -0700
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[Fletch Bowling]

Robecca,

The moveuser util worked great. Thanks so much for the help!

regards,
Fletch

v-r...@online.microsoft.com (Rebecca Chen [MSFT]) wrote in message news:<1kEaoRyu...@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl>...

[Rebecca Chen [MSFT]]

You are welcome!

Best regards,

Rebecca Chen

MCSE2000 MCDBA CCNA

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================

When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.

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--------------------
>From: fle...@gmail.com (Fletch Bowling)
>Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.migration

>Subject: Re: Migration from workgroup to domain and keep users exising
desktop
>Date: 26 Oct 2004 11:54:51 -0700
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