Re: Persist user profile when removing computer from a domain

SonOfPirate <SonOfPirate@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I am in the process of downgrading my home office and no longer need
my computers to be part of a domain. I'd like to remove them from
the domain but do not want to lose my user profile in the process.
If I remember correctly, when the computer is added to a domain, a
new profile is created so I am assuming the same thing will happen
when I remove it.

I read a suggestion that I should manually create a local user and
copy the domain profile using Control Panel - System - Advanced -
User Profiles - Copy To button (after rebooting and logging in as
Administrator) but the button is always grayed out (disabled).

Even with this, I'm not confident that this will persist the entire
profile. I'd like to be able to simply remove the computer from the
domain and have use of it as if nothing changed - i.e. same
wallpaper, desktop icons, favorites, my docs, e-mail settings, etc.

Any suggestions?

This is usually pretty easy.

While the computer is still in the domain, create a local user account.
Log in as the local user account and log out.
Log back in as any account with admin rights (but *not* the domain user in
question!)
Go to control panel, system, advanced....in User Profiles, click the
Settings button
Select the domain user's profile, click on Copy To, and browse to the new
local user's c:\documents and settings\username folder.
Click OK.
Click the Change button in Permitted to use and select either the
domain\username account you just copied, or Everyone
Close out.

Log in as the local user and make sure the settings look right. If so, you
should be good to go...disjoin the computer from the domain, making sure you
know the local admin credentials just in case something goes awry.

** If the Copy To button is grayed out, try downloading/installing the MS
User Profile Hive Cleanup tool and reboot, then log in as the admin


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