Home Forums Discussions Problems Windows Server User Files?

Hi,

Using Windows SBS 2011 Essentials here.

When connecting computers to the Server using the connector software, there is an option to move user files over to the server (or something like that). Even when I choose "Yes", it seems nothing is really copied over to the "User" folders on the server.

Is there something I'm missing here?

That's not what that does. The step in the connect utility you are talking about is moving the current profile on the computer to the domain account profile. Say for instance, you were on P2P and switching over to a domain, then you would utilize that feature so that it would copy all your documents, settings, etc. from your local user profile to your domain profile on that computer.

Synchronizing that folder with the server is a different feature known as Folder Redirection or Roaming Profiles. Roaming profiles will make a carbon copy of your account and keep it on the server (including background settings, etc.). Folder Redirection just stores the folders like the desktop, documents, and other folders on the server. Then when you open a file, it just opens it from the server. Both of these features are great if people jump from computer to computer. Also, backups become much simpler as you don't have to backup individual people's files on their desktop and documents.

For SBS Essentials, there is an little-known add-in called Windows 7 Professional Pack. Which makes setting up folder redirection quite simple and requires no knowledge of Group Policy. That is what you want. Even though SBS is compatible with Home Premium using features like Remote Desktop and this add-in require the professional editions.

When I do setups, I always use it as it makes backups quite simple. SBS Essentials does have the option to backup each computer already. I don't really use that. This also makes it very easy when you upgrade to new computers since all the users have to do is sign into the new one and all of their stuff will just be there.

I swear I learn more here than all my years of formal edumacation

Ha, I didn't learn any of this with formal education. Experimentation has always worked well for me

Virtualization has made learning new things very easy. I can make a testbed using just my own computer, especially with my new one.

Could not agree more. VM's have afforded me the opportunity to try things with aplomb. It's just fantastic.

I do not like Roaming Profiles. I do like Folder Redirection. RP is great in theory, and yes it works in reality, but there are just too many problems with it for me. I think I mainly have difficult when I am logged into more than one computer which most users are not.

I'm with Bert on this one. Folder redirection is simple and clean. Roaming profiles can get a little messy