Profile Roaming in XP/2003?

Avalon

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2001
7,572
182
106
I've got a server running Windows 2003 Server SBS R2 SP2, and two client machines running Windows XP Pro SP2. I'm trying to get profile roaming to work correctly on them, and want to store the profile on the 2003 Server.

I've got a user account (let's call it xyz) created in Active Directory, and I logged into one of the client machines with that account. I logged out, and then logged into the local Admin account for the client machine. I went to System Properties, Advanced, then User Profiles. I selected user xyz and did copy to.

I already have a shared folder on my 2003 server that has full access for everyone. I selected this folder (let's call it \\Server\test), and went to permissions and selected everyone. Alright, done, I see the profile/document settings on the server under the shared test folder. I go to the xyz's properties under Active Directory Users and Computers, and go to his profile tab. I set his profile location to \\Server\test\xyz.

So, I go back to the client machine and login as xyz to the domain again. I add some things to the desktop, change a few settings, and logout. On the server machine, no such update was made. If I log back into the original client machine, it'll keep the changes I made, but it seems because it's doing it locally. On the XP client machine, user xyz is set to roaming, and the status claims he's roaming. If I log xyz into the second client machine on the domain, it gives him a default barebones profile.

What am I doing wrong?
 

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
23
81
Originally posted by: Avalon
I've got a server running Windows 2003 Server SBS R2 SP2, and two client machines running Windows XP Pro SP2. I'm trying to get profile roaming to work correctly on them, and want to store the profile on the 2003 Server.

I've got a user account (let's call it xyz) created in Active Directory, and I logged into one of the client machines with that account. I logged out, and then logged into the local Admin account for the client machine. I went to System Properties, Advanced, then User Profiles. I selected user xyz and did copy to.

I already have a shared folder on my 2003 server that has full access for everyone. I selected this folder (let's call it \\Server\test), and went to permissions and selected everyone. Alright, done, I see the profile/document settings on the server under the shared test folder. I go to the xyz's properties under Active Directory Users and Computers, and go to his profile tab. I set his profile location to \\Server\test\xyz.

So, I go back to the client machine and login as xyz to the domain again. I add some things to the desktop, change a few settings, and logout. On the server machine, no such update was made. If I log back into the original client machine, it'll keep the changes I made, but it seems because it's doing it locally. On the XP client machine, user xyz is set to roaming, and the status claims he's roaming. If I log xyz into the second client machine on the domain, it gives him a default barebones profile.

What am I doing wrong?

did you set security permissions as well as share permissions for the user on the profile folder located on the server? rt click folder share > properties > security > gave the user Full Control? Also give the user ownership over the profile as well. at least that's what i get from the OP. sounds like you might have skipped the security permissions.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
How long are you waiting before attempting this? It takes awhile to initially copy the entire profile to the profile share. Once copied it is pretty good about grabbing changes.

And are you getting any errors when you logon about not being able to find your roaming profile?