Setup new SBS 2008 server for testing purposes. When I joined my first computer (Vista Ultimate) to the new domain, the SBS join domain wizard did a fine job of moving the local users's profile data to a new domain profile on the computer. But, I was hoping to retain the local profile.
1) Is this behavior because of the SBS join domain wizard? I have never worked with SBS before and normally manually join a computer to a domain. The local profile is untouched.
2) Can an existing local profile be "copied" with the wizard AND still be retained as a local profile.
3) If I un-join the computer from the domain, what will happen to the domain user profile on the computer?
4) If the wizard wipes out the local profile, then what do I have to fall back on if un-joining the domain?
Need to now join my primary Windows 7 computer but don't want to mess up my local profiles - hope to get an expert opinion before going any further.
Anyone?
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"It will ask you at a later stage on the same wizard which profile do you want to select for this user (basically it will redirect the user profile for that user to the server)"
The wizard converted the local profile to a domain profile. Logging on to "domain\user1" had all of the settings/data but the "computername\user1" (local) is now blank - a new profile. I would like to take advantage of the wizard to get all the setup/data for use with the domain profile but would like the option to logon to the local profile and have it as it was before joining the domain.
mutahir - I am not sure what you mean "... it redirects...to the server" as you say - the profile is still on the computer but under domain administration. It's not a roaming profile or is it? Haven't checked.
leew - the domain profile will remain after removing the computer from the domain but will I be able to logon to it as there won't be a domain controller to authenticate to.
Your experience is as it should be - when you migrate a profile all the data is MOVED, not COPIED. If it were copied, it COULD take HOURS depending on the size of the profile. If you want(ed) to preserve the local profile, you should create a backup FIRST, then migrate. Otherwise, as stated, when you unjoin the domain, the domain profile remains, but you will be unable to use it UNLESS you rejoin the domain.
(Why would you unjoin the domain? This doesn't make much sense).
The answers I received before this last one failed to mention that the profile will be MOVED when joining the domain and my experience confirmed. The prior answers were not clear and I was not confortable with the procedure.
Regarding the domain un-join issue, I am operating in a lab environment and change for the sake of change for testing purposes.
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by: mutahirPosted on 2009-11-02 at 14:03:42ID: 25724263
First of all, before doin anything you can run the files and settings wizard and backup your existing windows7 local profile to a external usb or storage (Windows Easy Transfer - All programs > accessories )
When you Join a machine to a SBS domain via http://connect
It will ask you at a later stage on the same wizard which profile do you want to select for this user (basically it will redirect the user profile for that user to the server)
When you un-join you still would have your local profile the way it was .