Re: How to "relink" a user's profile folder to a new account/SID?

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry


"Robert" <Robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3DCE71E8-1FF8-403C-A07B-428E00D6C74D@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm trying to rename an account and have its associated profile folder
name
match. I know how to rename the account. And, I understand the
relationship
between the account name, the profile name (created at the first login of
a
new account) and the associated SID. But, how do you "rename" a user
profile
folder so it matches the newly-named account?
Here's what I've tried thus far:

First, I changed the account name in Control Panel\User Accounts. And when
I
logged out, the new account name appeared in place of the original name on
the Windows Login screen. But, when I logged in again, the account's
folder
name (under C:\Documents and Settings) remained unchanged. Apparently,
changing the account name doesn't alter the profile name associated with
that
account's SID.

Next, I changed the profile folder name using the Rename function in
Windows
Explorer. (I'm surprised I didn't get an error message saying the file
cannot
be deleted.) Then, I created a NEW profile folder with the desired name
(via
File\New\Folder). And, I copied the original profile folder's contents to
the
newly-created folder.

But, when I logged out and back in again using the new account name, I was
surprised that Windows recreated a user profile with the SAME folder name
as
the original profile folder, the one I had changed. Rather than use the
information in the new profile folder as I had hoped, Windows forced the
login using the original profile name, even if it had to create a second
one.


Please clarify/explain these three concepts:

1. Its my understanding that what's created in the Control Panel are User
Accounts. And, what appears under C:\Documents and Settings are users'
"Profile Folders". I've read that the two are connected by a Security ID
(SID). Why are User Account names and Profiles separate entities?
*** Your "account" is an entry in the SAM database. It defines your name,
password and status (e.g. User or Administrator. You can compare it to your
entry in a company's staff register: "Robert, Maintenance Manager".
Your "profile folder" is a collection of folders, files and settings. It
remembers the environment you work in. You can compare it to your desk: Its
location, size, telephone, PC. You can have an account without a profile
folder, same as you can be employed by a company without having a desk (and
maybe draw a salary without working . . .)

2. When you create a NEW User Account, that account name appears in the
Windows Login screen. But, changing the User Account name doesn't change
the
Profile Folder's name to match? How do you change the profile folder name
to
match the modified account name?
*** See below.

3. When I log in with an Administrator account and try to delete a
different
user's Profile Folder, I get the following error message, "<username> is a
Windows system folder and is required for Windows to run properly. It
cannot
be deleted." I understand that if I delete an account in Control
Panel\User
Accounts, I will not be able to re-use that account name again.
(Apparently,
deleting an account doesn't delete its associated SID.) And, I've read you
can delete a user's Profile Folder in Safe Mode. Is this true? Or, will
the
remaining SID force another profile folder to be created with its attached
(original) folder name as I experienced previously?
*** When you reboot a machine and log on as Administrator then you can
delete all user profile folders, other than your own.

Thanks for any infomation you can provide. A lot of people seem to be
having
a similar problem, and there's several different opinions in these Forums
about what's the right answer. I'm becoming quite frustrated
with it all. It would be great if Microsoft posted a KB article to clear
this up!

-Robert

There are two ways to re-link a given profile folder with an account:

a) By using a "substitution racket". This method replaces a user's unwanted
profile folder with the correct folder. This method does not involve any
registry changes and is therefore completely safe and fully reversible. Here
is an example of someone who did it successfully:
http://forums.techarena.in/window-2000-help/1073870.htm

b) By changing the registry entry that points to a user's profile folder.
1. Log on as Administrator.
2. Navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
3. Locate the "incorrect" profile name in the "ProfileImagePath" key.
4. Adjust it to the "correct" folder name.
5. Reboot and log on as the problem user.
Because this method involves changing the registry, you run the usual risks
associated with registry changes. Unless you back up the key you modify, the
change is not reversible. If you mistype the folder name then you will cause
a new profile folder to be created at the next logon.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Account Unknown User Profile
    ... see Help and Support Center at ... Windows cannot load the locally stored profile. ... the administrator account I get this following error: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: User name assigned to a new profile!
    ... Windows explorer shows that my folders and files are still there, ... Windows cannot load the locally stored profile. ... Where is his account? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: User name assigned to a new profile!
    ... Windows explorer shows that my folders and files are still there, ... Windows cannot load the locally stored profile. ... Where is his account? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • RE: Migration client issues
    ... You may use logon script to copy profile or my favorites to the new ... In Windows NT 4.0, locally cached profiles are stored as a subfolder of the ... Regardless of whether the user logs on to a local account or an account ... Description of Windows 2000 User Account and Profile Migration ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.migration)
  • Re: How can I delete and disable user profiles in WinXP PRO?(if po
    ... Assigning a Mandatory Profile in XP? ... "Shenan Stanley" wrote: ... >> folders and files to be displayed for either account. ... > Windows XP is a multi-user OS, even when used by one person only, the ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)