3.7 Assigning a Roaming Profile Policy that has the User Profile Stored on a Windows, Linux or NetWare Share

If a Roaming Profile policy is assigned to a user on a Windows Vista, Windows 2008 or a Windows 7 device, the policy fails if the user profile is stored on a shared location. This is because the registry hive of the user profile does not have permissions to load the profile to other devices. For more information, see the Microsoft TechNet Web site.

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

Before assigning a roaming profile policy to users on a Windows Vista, Windows 2008 or a Windows 7 device, do the following:

  1. Create a default profile folder in a shared location.

    For information on creating the default profile folder, see Section 3.7.1, Creating a Default Profile Folder in a Shared Location.

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

    For information on copying the default profile to the shared location, see Section 3.7.2, Copying the Default Profile from a Windows Vista, Windows 2008 or a 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 3.7.3, Configuring the Permissions for the Default Profile Registry Hive.

3.7.1 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

3.7.2 Copying the Default Profile from a Windows Vista, Windows 2008 or a 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, 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 3.7.1, 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.

3.7.3 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, and 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 3.7.1, 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:

    • Administrators

    • SYSTEM

    • Users

  7. Click Advanced.

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

  9. Click OK.

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

3.7.4 Copying the Default Profile to User Folders

Ensure that you copy the default profile 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: \\DNS_name_of_file_server\profiles\Username.V2