Domain user accounts vs. local accounts

[merk]

I have an existing user account on a Win2K Pro machine that I would like to turn into a domain account. Any suggestions on the best way to achieve this goal.

 

[lostboyz]

Domain Controller or what? can u specify pls?

 

[merk]

I have an existing user account on a W2K Pro machine that the user has had for a while. Consequently, there are many applications associated with his account. I would like this local account to become a domain account, so that he can keep his profile while logging on to the domain instead of the local computer.

Is there a way to achieve this goal? Thanks for the help.

 

[jjgraf]

In short no. Once you create a new account on the domain and he logs on it will create a new profile on the W2K Pro. which then you can copy files and shortcuts out of that Local Profile into the New profile.

 

[mcconmw]

The easiest way to handle this is to create the new domain account. Logon as the new account and then logoff. This creates a new profile using the default profile. Log back in as an administrator to the local machine. Go to control panel\system and select the user profiles tab. Select the old profile and choose copy to. Browse to the new domain profile and select it as the copy to location. It is also easiest if you apply everyone\full control permissions to the copy to profile. Doing it this way will copy registry entries that are specific to the user as well as shortcuts etc. When the user logs in with the new account they should notice no differences from the old account. Good luck.

 

[merk]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[merk]

I am sorry to be a pain - could I have some hints on where I should look for the profile on the server. I went to user profiles on the client machine and was going to perform a 'copy to' in order to get the local information on to the domain account, but I am unsure of where it should be located on the server.

Thanks again.

 

[mcconmw]

You do not need to move it to the server unless you are using roaming profiles or have otherwise moved the default location of the profiles. Depending on which client you are using you will find the new profile in either c:\winnt\profiles or c:\documents and Settings\ (Note that this profile will only be there after you have logged on with the new account once and logged back off.)

 

[jjgraf]

Are you setting up Roaming Profiles?

if so you can stick the progiles any where you please as long as it is a share the User has Full Control over.

something like this \\Myserver\Profiles\User Name

in this setup you have a share named Profiles on the server Myserver. and each time you create a new user you create a new directory.

----------------------------------------------------------

Local and cached profiles are stored in C:\Docements and Settings\User Name
On W2K and XP

ON NT4.0 it is C:\WINNT\PROFILES\User Name

 

[MattWray]

I also have a problem along these lines. I just copied a local account to a domain account, and now on the domain account it continuously pops up with explorer.exe error, windows must restart the program and an error log is being generated. But it does not stop doing it!

ANy Ideas?

MAtt Wray
CCNA

 

[mcconmw]

It may be a security issue. Try granting everyone\change to the new profile from within user profiles in the system applet. If this fixes it then you can track down the permission problem and reset it.