Home Forums Adding Windows 8.1 pc to a 2003 domain issue

Hi. I have new Windows 8.1 workstations. I have to say they aren't as bad as many are complaining about. I do have an issue though: Users cannot log into their Active Directory roaming profiles and the GPO doesn't run the logon script.

Does anyone have any enlightening suggestions to help me remediate this issue?

This may help:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2890783

I have always felt that while roaming profiles are very helpful and cool, they just cause more problems than they are worth.

They aren't as bad, because everyone was complaining of 8.0.

Thanks Bert! The hot fix that Microsoft has identified only work with Windows 8.x RT. However, the Registry key portion may do the job. I did some minor testing and it seems to work. I will be doing considerably more and I will let you know of the outcome.

I can attach a Windows 8.1 machine to a Server 2003 domain. I CANNOT get the users to get their roaming profiles or run the Group Policy. I went to the website identified above. The hotfix that was posted was for Windows RT. I applied the Registry addition but it didn't help.

If anyone else has done this can you help?

Roaming profile are only compatible between the versions listed in Bert's Link.

For instance an XP Profile won't work with Windows 7. You'll need to create a separate profile for each version of Windows. That registry change will add the ability to create Roaming profile for Windows 8.1 in Server 2003. You can then add data to that new Roaming Profile like AppData and whatnot, but most of the stuff isn't interchangeable.

Btw, Server 2003 is EOL July 2015.

Is the desktop and my documents folders interchangeable? Also, how do I force a Windows 8.1 machine to log onto the domain using the group policies? I need it to run a script.

jasman,

The hotfix mentioned by Bert works with the following versions of Windows:

?Windows 8.1
?Windows 8.1 Enterprise
?Windows 8.1 Pro
?Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
?Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
?Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation
?Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

The article cannot, in point of fact, work with Windows RT since Windows RT cannot join a domain to begin with.

I would also like to point out that your Windows Server 2003 installation is soon to fall out of support with Microsoft. I would very much encourage you to begin your migration to Windows Server 2012 R2 as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive and troublesome this migration will be. In fact, I am already hearing some whispering that Windows Server 2012 R2 will be the last version of Windows that will support an Active Directory migration from Windows Server 2003. I do not know how true these whisperings are, but I think it best to not find out.

You should consult your IT support to plan this migration. If you do not have a support consultant or you require assistance migrating to a 2012 R2 domain, I can assist but that is not something I provide for free. We'll need to work something out. No matter your choice, make sure you have all the necessary backups in place before beginning this migration. Here is an article to get you started in your planning:

http://tinyurl.com/q4ha9dh

If you have any further questions, please ask.

JamesNT

Here is the post I tried to make earlier:

jasman,

The hotfix mentioned by Bert works with the following versions of Windows:

?Windows 8.1
?Windows 8.1 Enterprise
?Windows 8.1 Pro
?Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
?Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
?Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation
?Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

The article cannot, in point of fact, work with Windows RT since Windows RT cannot join a domain to begin with.

I would also like to point out that your Windows Server 2003 installation is soon to fall out of support with Microsoft. I would very much encourage you to begin your migration to Windows Server 2012 R2 as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive and troublesome this migration will be. In fact, I am already hearing some whispering that Windows Server 2012 R2 will be the last version of Windows that will support an Active Directory migration from Windows Server 2003. I do not know how true these whisperings are, but I think it best to not find out.

You should consult your IT support to plan this migration. If you do not have a support consultant or you require assistance migrating to a 2012 R2 domain, I can assist but that is not something I provide for free. No matter your choice, make sure you have all the necessary backups in place before beginning this migration. Here is an article to get you started in your planning:

http://tinyurl.com/q4ha9dh

If you have any further questions, please ask.

JamesNT

PM me, James, and I will post this stuff for you.
I will suddenly start to look smart.

Desktops and documents are best handled with folder redirection. Those won't work either. XP and Win Vista/7/8 all store files in very different locations.

XP keeps all user files under %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings
Vista/7/8 keeps all user files under %systemdrive%\Users\.

You could migrate the data appropriately to setup the new Windows 8 Profiles. Personally I tend to steer clear of Roaming Profiles.

If the script applies to Windows 8.1, it will apply if the GPO setting is in Windows 8.1. A lot of the settings that used to work in Server 2003R2 have been deprecated. If you want to handle GPO with Windows 8.1 in your domain, you'll need to setup Windows 8.1 with RSAT. Then you'll have access to the Windows 8.1 GPO settings. That's the cheapest way without having to upgrade to Server 2012R2.

Side Note:
Also, these types of technical questions are best reserved for the Microsoft forum. You'll be hard-pressed to find board members (aside from James and Bert) who are familiar with RSAT, GPO, and Roaming Profiles. You'll get much better response there I'm guessing. Hiring a professional works well too.

I've asked JBS to post this for me until the forum issue is resolved.

jasman,
The hotix mentioned by Bert works with the following versions of Windows:

-Windows 8.1
-Windows 8.1 Enterprise
-Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

The article cannot, in point of fact, work with Windows RT since Windows RT cannot join a domain to begin with.

---to be continued

Thanks for everyone's suggestions!! I am planning on hiring a Windows Server professional who has dealt with this situation before.

JamesNT post, continued:
I would also like to point out that your Windows Server 2003 installation is soon to fall out of support with Microsoft. I would very much encourage you to begin your migration to Windows Server 2012 R2 as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive and troublesome this migration will be. In fact, I am already hearing some whispering that Windows Server 2012 R2 will be the last version of Windows that will support an Active Directory migration directly from Windows Server 2003. What this effectively means is that, for example, if Windows Server 2015 comes out and does not support upgrading from Server 2003 you'll have to upgrade to 2012 R2 first then to Server 2015 - which effectively doubles your upgrade costs. Or, you'll have to settle for upgrading to an OS that has already exhausted a few years of support. I do not know how true these whisperings are, however, we have seen this sort of thing in the past. I know of a few companies that wanted to upgrade from Exchange 2000 to Exchange 2010 that were in for a rude awakening when they found out there is no direct upgrade from Exchange 2000 to Exchange 2010. They instead had to upgrade to 2003 or 2007 first then to 2010.

You should consult your IT support to plan this migration. If you do not have a support consultant or you require assistance migrating to a 2012 R2 domain, I can assist but this sort of skill not something I provide for free. No matter your choice, make sure you have all the necessary backups in place before beginning this migration. Here is an article to get you started in your planning:
http://tinyurl.com/q4ha9dh

As Sandeep mentioned, the Microsoft forums are a better place for this sort of discussion. However, if you or your tech-support do not have much of a background in Active Directory, don't be surprised if you find those forums of little help. The people that hang out there are experts at what they do and rarely spend their time helping total newbies. They are far more geared to helping those who are experts, or at least knowledgeable, like they are but have just hit a snag. What you are asking for is a high-end skillset that many IT Pros spend years practicing. Sorta like being a doctor.

JamesNT

Thanks