4.9 Assigning a Roaming Profile Policy for a User Profile Stored on a Windows, Linux, or NetWare Share

If a default profile already exists at a shared location, start with Step 3 in the following procedure. If you do not yet have a default profile, start with Step 1.

  1. Create a default profile folder in a shared location that will be used to pre-populate each user’s home directory.

    For information on creating the default profile folder, see Section 4.9.1, Creating a Default Profile Folder in a Shared Location.

  2. Create the default profile from a Windows Vista device, Windows 2008 device, or a Windows 7 device to the default profile folder in the shared location.

    For information on creating the default profile in the shared location, see Section 4.9.2, Creating the Default Profile from a Windows Vista, Windows 2008, or Windows 7 Device to the Default Profile Folder in the Shared Location.

  3. Configure the registry hive permissions for the default profile.

    For information on configuring the registry hive permissions, see Section 4.9.3, Configuring the Permissions for the Default Profile Registry Hive.

4.9.1 Creating a Default Profile Folder in a Shared Location

Create a default profile folder in a shared location, depending on where you want to store the user profile. For example:

  • User Profile Path: \\DNS_name_of_file_ server\profiles\DefaultProfile.V2

4.9.2 Creating the Default Profile from a Windows Vista, Windows 2008, or Windows 7 Device to the Default Profile Folder in the Shared Location

Ensure that the user profile you want to copy as a default profile already exists on the device. If the desired profile is not available, create a new user account and then log in to the device with the new account credentials to create the profile.

Perform the following steps to copy the default profile to the default profile folder in the shared location:

  1. Log in to the device as an administrator.

  2. Right-click Computer, then click Properties > Advanced system settings.

  3. In the User Profiles section, click Settings.

  4. Select a profile on the device to store as a default profile.

  5. Click Copy To.

  6. Browse to and select the default profile folder you created in Section 4.9.1, Creating a Default Profile Folder in a Shared Location.

  7. Click Change in the Permitted to Use section.

  8. Specify Everyone in the Enter the object name to select option to provide permissions, then click OK.

  9. Click OK to copy the profile to the shared location, then click OK.

  10. Click OK.

4.9.3 Configuring the Permissions for the Default Profile Registry Hive

  1. To open the Registry Editor when the shared location is on a Windows device, run regedit.

    or

    To open the Registry Editor when the shared location is on a Linux or NetWare device, map the location from a Windows device, then open the Registry Editor on the Windows device.

  2. Select HKEY_USERS, then click File > Load Hive.

  3. Open the NTUSER.DAT file from the default profile folder created in Section 4.9.1, Creating a Default Profile Folder in a Shared Location.

    The NTUSER.DAT file might be hidden. To unhide the file:

    1. Open the default profile folder in Windows Explorer.

    2. Click Tools > Folder Options > View.

    3. Deselect Hide protected operating system files.

  4. In the Load Hive dialog box, specify the Key Name for the hive. For example, Vista.

  5. Right-click the Vista hive, then click Permissions.

  6. Ensure that the following groups or usernames have Full Control permissions:

    • Everyone

    • SYSTEM

    • Authenticated Users

  7. Click Advanced.

  8. Select the Replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects option, click OK, then click Yes.

  9. Click OK.

  10. To unload the hive, select the Vista registry hive that you created, then click File > Unload Hive.

4.9.4 Copying the Default Profile to User Folders

Ensure that you copy the default profile from Section 4.9.3, Configuring the Permissions for the Default Profile Registry Hive to the user folders before assigning the Roaming Profile policy to the users. Depending on the user profiles stored, these user folders are:

  • User Profile Path: \\UNC_Path_of User's Home Directory\Windows NT 6.1 Workstation Profile.V2

4.9.5 Configuring Novell Client 2 for Windows 7

Under the Advanced Login Tab in the Novell Client Properties Window, ensure that “Allow Roaming User Profile paths to non-Windows servers is enabled. (Note: This is the default value.)

4.9.6 Enable Do not check for user Ownership of Roaming Profile Folders

  1. Create or Edit a Group Policy Object.

  2. Browse to the following folder: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\User Profiles.

  3. In the right pane, double click Do not check for user Ownership of Roaming Profile Folders.

  4. Click Enabled.

  5. Click OK.