How do I change the directory in which the system stores profiles?

worked well, but don't forget to use switch /h to copy hidden files (like the whole "default user" dir) too.

cu

Thomas November 22, 2000

I cannot seem to get this tip to work for NT 4. According to Microsoft KB you cannot change the directory in which profiles are stored. I do not see a /o switch for XCOPY.
I would like to move the Profiles to the D partition.

Bryan April 04, 2001

You forgot to explain that profilePath key in the user's SID key under the key identified needs to be changed also. Without this change, profile corruption will occur.

Robert Smith April 04, 2001

You can also set the location for the documents and settings folder in Win2000 by using an answer file during installation, this allows you to specify a different drive altogether which is particularly useful when installing a server that is to run "terminal services" as this prevents profiles clogging up the system partition. See Q236621 on technet for further details.

Pete Langford November 25, 2002

sorry but it doesn't seem to work in Windows 2000
how to copy ?...ok i tried but the xcopy doesn't work...

pierre December 16, 2003

Hi
Can you explain this from the beginning again exactly how to do it?

I want to completely move win xp´s profile and "Documents and settings" to my d: partition

and can you also explain where and how i choose the new "Documents and settings" and profile when i install win xp again?

peman March 03, 2005

You can change the profile Win2K uses for default users by modifying the DefaultUserProfile string value, and you can change the profile Win2K uses for all users by modifying AllUsersProfile.

what change in AllUsersProfile

Anonymous User April 03, 2005 (Article Rating: )

Hi, I have jsut changed the path to another user's - but now when i try to log in it says Access Denied and loads the default profile.
I have checked permissions under documents and settings.wyn

Anonymous User April 04, 2005 (Article Rating: )

Here's how I suceeded in migrating profile.
1. First, create a new user, eg ProfileTemp, with full admin priveleges. Log in as ProfileTemp
2. Copy profiles across to new location, using xcopy. I used the switches /E /F /H /K /O /C /R. Use xcopy /? for an explanation of these.
3. Using regedit, in the reg key mentioned (HKLM\...\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList) AND ALL SUBKEYS, search and replace all instances of the old profiles directory path with the new. Restart computer and log in again as ProfileTemp.
4. If you look in new profiles directory, you may see a new profile named "ProfileTemp.{Full computer name}. This is the active profile.
5. Search registry for all occurrences of old profile directory path, and change to new path. I do this by exporting the relevant registry keys, using search and replace in a text editor to change the paths, and then double-clicking and importing my modified reg settings into the registry.
6. Restart. Log in as Administrator. Remove user ProfileTemp from computer using the "Users and Passwords" applet in control panel.
7. Restart. Log in as Administrator. You can now delete the old profile directory, and all profile directories belonging to ProfileTemp.

Anonymous User July 25, 2005 (Article Rating: )