I have searched the groups, but can't find any posts relating to this.

We have a small network -
1 X Small Business Server 2003 R2 Server
7 X Win XP Clients

I have setup the users to use roaming profiles.
I have also setup folder redirect for Profile Folders to Shared Folder on
server.
I have disabled Offline Files on the XP Clients.

This setup looks like it's working OK, and has done for a week, but now i've
had 2 instances where a client has logged in and every shortcut / document
has vanished.

When I look in the Folder for the users profile on the Server, the Desktop
folder is empty and the My Documents folder is also empty, yet Firefox still
contains all of the bookmarks that have been added by the user - so the App
Data folder works OK

Please Help!! Murpheys Law has struck & this has happened to the two
company directors who are looking to me for the answers.

I appreciate any help with this, I don't know where to begin looking with
this problem.

Thanks
Andy

Re: Strange Roaming Profile Problem on SBS2003 R2 by Lanwench

Lanwench
Thu May 08 06:08:13 PDT 2008

AndyW <AndyW@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I have searched the groups, but can't find any posts relating to this.
>
> We have a small network -
> 1 X Small Business Server 2003 R2 Server
> 7 X Win XP Clients
>
> I have setup the users to use roaming profiles.
> I have also setup folder redirect for Profile Folders to Shared
> Folder on server.
> I have disabled Offline Files on the XP Clients.
>
> This setup looks like it's working OK, and has done for a week, but
> now i've had 2 instances where a client has logged in and every
> shortcut / document has vanished.
>
> When I look in the Folder for the users profile on the Server, the
> Desktop folder is empty and the My Documents folder is also empty,
> yet Firefox still contains all of the bookmarks that have been added
> by the user - so the App Data folder works OK
>
> Please Help!! Murpheys Law has struck & this has happened to the two
> company directors who are looking to me for the answers.
>
> I appreciate any help with this, I don't know where to begin looking
> with this problem.
>
> Thanks
> Andy

Check the event logs on the workstation.....and make sure you've got the
User Profile Hive Cleanup utility running. See below for my boilerplate on
roaming profiles....

********************
General tips:

1. Set up a share on the server. For example - d:\profiles, shared as
profiles$ to make it hidden from browsing. Make sure this share is *not* set
to allow offline files/caching! (that's on by default - disable it)

2. Make sure the share permissions on profiles$ indicate everyone=full
control. Set the NTFS security to administrators, system, and users=full
control.

3. In the users' ADUC properties, specify \\server\profiles$\%username% in
the profiles field

4. Have each user log into the domain once - if this is an existing user
with a profile you wish to keep, have them log in at their usual
workstationand log out. The profile is now roaming.

5. If you want the administrators group to automatically have permissions to
the profiles folders, you'll need to make the appropriate change in group
policy. Look in computer configuration/administrative templates/system/user
profiles - there's an option to add administrators group to the roaming
profiles permissions. Do this *before* the users' roaming profile folders
are created - it isn't retroactive.

********************
Notes:

Make sure users understand that they should not log into multiple computers
at the same time when they have roaming profiles (unless you make the
profiles mandatory by renaming ntuser.dat to ntuser.man so they can't change
them, which has major disadvantages),. Explain that the 'last one out wins'
when it comes to uploading the final, changed copy of the profile. If you
want to restrict multiple simultaneous network logins, look at LimitLogon
(too much overhead for me), or this:
http://www.jsifaq.com/SF/Tips/Tip.aspx?id=8768

********************
Keep your profiles TINY. Via group policy, you should be redirecting My
Documents (at the very least) - to a subfolder of the user's home directory
or user folder. Also consider redirecting Desktop & Application Data
similarly..... so the user will end up with:

\\server\users\%username%\My Documents,
\\server\users\%username%\Desktop,
\\server\users\%username%\Application Data.

[Alternatively, just manually re-target My Documents to
\\server\users\%username% (this is not optimal, however!)]

You should use folder redirection even without roaming profiles, but it's
especially critical if you *are* using them.

If you aren't going to also redirect the desktop using policies, tell users
that they are not to store any files on the desktop or you will beat them
with a
stick. Big profile=slow login/logout, and possible profile corruption.

********************
Note that user profiles are not compatible between different OS versions,
even between W2k/XP. Keep all your computers. Keep your workstations as
identical as possible - meaning, OS version is the same, SP level is the
same, app load is (as much as possible) the same.

*********************
If you also have Terminal Services users, make sure you set up a different
TS profile path for them in their ADUC properties - e.g.,
\\server\tsprofiles$\%username%

********************
Do not let people store any data locally - all data belongs on the server.

********************
The User Profile Hive Cleanup Utility should be running on all your
computers. You can download it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

********************
Roaming profile & folder redirection article -
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html



Re: Strange Roaming Profile Problem on SBS2003 R2 by AndyW

AndyW
Thu May 08 07:22:00 PDT 2008

Thanks for the quick response Lanwench, i hadn't thought of disabling the
offline files on the share itself but had disabled the offline files on each
of the clients instead.

I've made the changes & downloaded the UPHClean which i'm just about to
install on all of the Clients.

Thanks again, time will tell if this will stop it happening, but i'm
optimistic.

Thankyou
Andy

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> AndyW <AndyW@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > I have searched the groups, but can't find any posts relating to this.
> >
> > We have a small network -
> > 1 X Small Business Server 2003 R2 Server
> > 7 X Win XP Clients
> >
> > I have setup the users to use roaming profiles.
> > I have also setup folder redirect for Profile Folders to Shared
> > Folder on server.
> > I have disabled Offline Files on the XP Clients.
> >
> > This setup looks like it's working OK, and has done for a week, but
> > now i've had 2 instances where a client has logged in and every
> > shortcut / document has vanished.
> >
> > When I look in the Folder for the users profile on the Server, the
> > Desktop folder is empty and the My Documents folder is also empty,
> > yet Firefox still contains all of the bookmarks that have been added
> > by the user - so the App Data folder works OK
> >
> > Please Help!! Murpheys Law has struck & this has happened to the two
> > company directors who are looking to me for the answers.
> >
> > I appreciate any help with this, I don't know where to begin looking
> > with this problem.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Andy
>
> Check the event logs on the workstation.....and make sure you've got the
> User Profile Hive Cleanup utility running. See below for my boilerplate on
> roaming profiles....
>
> ********************
> General tips:
>
> 1. Set up a share on the server. For example - d:\profiles, shared as
> profiles$ to make it hidden from browsing. Make sure this share is *not* set
> to allow offline files/caching! (that's on by default - disable it)
>
> 2. Make sure the share permissions on profiles$ indicate everyone=full
> control. Set the NTFS security to administrators, system, and users=full
> control.
>
> 3. In the users' ADUC properties, specify \\server\profiles$\%username% in
> the profiles field
>
> 4. Have each user log into the domain once - if this is an existing user
> with a profile you wish to keep, have them log in at their usual
> workstationand log out. The profile is now roaming.
>
> 5. If you want the administrators group to automatically have permissions to
> the profiles folders, you'll need to make the appropriate change in group
> policy. Look in computer configuration/administrative templates/system/user
> profiles - there's an option to add administrators group to the roaming
> profiles permissions. Do this *before* the users' roaming profile folders
> are created - it isn't retroactive.
>
> ********************
> Notes:
>
> Make sure users understand that they should not log into multiple computers
> at the same time when they have roaming profiles (unless you make the
> profiles mandatory by renaming ntuser.dat to ntuser.man so they can't change
> them, which has major disadvantages),. Explain that the 'last one out wins'
> when it comes to uploading the final, changed copy of the profile. If you
> want to restrict multiple simultaneous network logins, look at LimitLogon
> (too much overhead for me), or this:
> http://www.jsifaq.com/SF/Tips/Tip.aspx?id=8768
>
> ********************
> Keep your profiles TINY. Via group policy, you should be redirecting My
> Documents (at the very least) - to a subfolder of the user's home directory
> or user folder. Also consider redirecting Desktop & Application Data
> similarly..... so the user will end up with:
>
> \\server\users\%username%\My Documents,
> \\server\users\%username%\Desktop,
> \\server\users\%username%\Application Data.
>
> [Alternatively, just manually re-target My Documents to
> \\server\users\%username% (this is not optimal, however!)]
>
> You should use folder redirection even without roaming profiles, but it's
> especially critical if you *are* using them.
>
> If you aren't going to also redirect the desktop using policies, tell users
> that they are not to store any files on the desktop or you will beat them
> with a
> stick. Big profile=slow login/logout, and possible profile corruption.
>
> ********************
> Note that user profiles are not compatible between different OS versions,
> even between W2k/XP. Keep all your computers. Keep your workstations as
> identical as possible - meaning, OS version is the same, SP level is the
> same, app load is (as much as possible) the same.
>
> *********************
> If you also have Terminal Services users, make sure you set up a different
> TS profile path for them in their ADUC properties - e.g.,
> \\server\tsprofiles$\%username%
>
> ********************
> Do not let people store any data locally - all data belongs on the server.
>
> ********************
> The User Profile Hive Cleanup Utility should be running on all your
> computers. You can download it here:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en
>
> ********************
> Roaming profile & folder redirection article -
> http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html
>
>
>

Re: Strange Roaming Profile Problem on SBS2003 R2 by Lanwench

Lanwench
Thu May 08 12:09:12 PDT 2008

AndyW <AndyW@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Thanks for the quick response Lanwench, i hadn't thought of disabling
> the offline files on the share itself but had disabled the offline
> files on each of the clients instead.

Ah. Well, for roaming profiles you will definitely need to disable it on the
parent share.
>
> I've made the changes & downloaded the UPHClean which i'm just about
> to install on all of the Clients.
>
> Thanks again, time will tell if this will stop it happening, but i'm
> optimistic.
>
> Thankyou
> Andy

Most welcome!

>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> AndyW <AndyW@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>> I have searched the groups, but can't find any posts relating to
>>> this.
>>>
>>> We have a small network -
>>> 1 X Small Business Server 2003 R2 Server
>>> 7 X Win XP Clients
>>>
>>> I have setup the users to use roaming profiles.
>>> I have also setup folder redirect for Profile Folders to Shared
>>> Folder on server.
>>> I have disabled Offline Files on the XP Clients.
>>>
>>> This setup looks like it's working OK, and has done for a week, but
>>> now i've had 2 instances where a client has logged in and every
>>> shortcut / document has vanished.
>>>
>>> When I look in the Folder for the users profile on the Server, the
>>> Desktop folder is empty and the My Documents folder is also empty,
>>> yet Firefox still contains all of the bookmarks that have been added
>>> by the user - so the App Data folder works OK
>>>
>>> Please Help!! Murpheys Law has struck & this has happened to the
>>> two company directors who are looking to me for the answers.
>>>
>>> I appreciate any help with this, I don't know where to begin looking
>>> with this problem.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> Andy
>>
>> Check the event logs on the workstation.....and make sure you've got
>> the User Profile Hive Cleanup utility running. See below for my
>> boilerplate on roaming profiles....
>>
>> ********************
>> General tips:
>>
>> 1. Set up a share on the server. For example - d:\profiles, shared as
>> profiles$ to make it hidden from browsing. Make sure this share is
>> *not* set to allow offline files/caching! (that's on by default -
>> disable it)
>>
>> 2. Make sure the share permissions on profiles$ indicate
>> everyone=full control. Set the NTFS security to administrators,
>> system, and users=full control.
>>
>> 3. In the users' ADUC properties, specify
>> \\server\profiles$\%username% in the profiles field
>>
>> 4. Have each user log into the domain once - if this is an existing
>> user with a profile you wish to keep, have them log in at their usual
>> workstationand log out. The profile is now roaming.
>>
>> 5. If you want the administrators group to automatically have
>> permissions to the profiles folders, you'll need to make the
>> appropriate change in group policy. Look in computer
>> configuration/administrative templates/system/user profiles -
>> there's an option to add administrators group to the roaming
>> profiles permissions. Do this *before* the users' roaming profile
>> folders are created - it isn't retroactive.
>>
>> ********************
>> Notes:
>>
>> Make sure users understand that they should not log into multiple
>> computers at the same time when they have roaming profiles (unless
>> you make the profiles mandatory by renaming ntuser.dat to ntuser.man
>> so they can't change them, which has major disadvantages),. Explain
>> that the 'last one out wins' when it comes to uploading the final,
>> changed copy of the profile. If you want to restrict multiple
>> simultaneous network logins, look at LimitLogon (too much overhead
>> for me), or this: http://www.jsifaq.com/SF/Tips/Tip.aspx?id=8768
>>
>> ********************
>> Keep your profiles TINY. Via group policy, you should be redirecting
>> My Documents (at the very least) - to a subfolder of the user's home
>> directory or user folder. Also consider redirecting Desktop &
>> Application Data similarly..... so the user will end up with:
>>
>> \\server\users\%username%\My Documents,
>> \\server\users\%username%\Desktop,
>> \\server\users\%username%\Application Data.
>>
>> [Alternatively, just manually re-target My Documents to
>> \\server\users\%username% (this is not optimal, however!)]
>>
>> You should use folder redirection even without roaming profiles, but
>> it's especially critical if you *are* using them.
>>
>> If you aren't going to also redirect the desktop using policies,
>> tell users that they are not to store any files on the desktop or
>> you will beat them with a
>> stick. Big profile=slow login/logout, and possible profile
>> corruption.
>>
>> ********************
>> Note that user profiles are not compatible between different OS
>> versions, even between W2k/XP. Keep all your computers. Keep your
>> workstations as identical as possible - meaning, OS version is the
>> same, SP level is the same, app load is (as much as possible) the
>> same.
>>
>> *********************
>> If you also have Terminal Services users, make sure you set up a
>> different TS profile path for them in their ADUC properties - e.g.,
>> \\server\tsprofiles$\%username%
>>
>> ********************
>> Do not let people store any data locally - all data belongs on the
>> server.
>>
>> ********************
>> The User Profile Hive Cleanup Utility should be running on all your
>> computers. You can download it here:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en
>>
>> ********************
>> Roaming profile & folder redirection article -
>> http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html