Roaming profile files won't go away after being deleted!
I am using roaming profiles & Folder Redirection with Server 2003 & XP. Everything seems to be working fine except when a user deletes a file, log off, log back on - the file is back!
I took a look at the below post:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20924270/Deleted-Files-Keep-Coming-back-Roaming-Profiles-Folder-Redirection.html?query=delete+roaming+profile+files&clearTAFilter=true
I disabled offline files but it didn't solve my problem. It only got rid of the annoying blue swirlies on the icons and a message that was coming up every once in a while that a machine was suddenly offline. While that is all well and good, my users are getting downright MAD that they can't delete files from their desktop. Many of them use the desktop as a temporary staging area for files used during the day and deleted at the end of the day so now their desktop is filling up and they can't delete files.
If I want to get something to STAY deleted, I have to delete it from the desktop (which deletes it off the server) then I have to go into the Documents & Settings folder and find the matching profile on the computer and delete it there.
I had thought that was the point of a roaming profile!?!? To not have to worry about anything local on the machine.
I would assume that deleting the local profile when the user logs off using a GPO would take care of the problem but I am worried about what happens if the server goes down or something happens the user can't work.
Any suggestions? Please?
MJL
I took a look at the below post:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20924270/Deleted-Files-Keep-Coming-back-Roaming-Profiles-Folder-Redirection.html?query=delete+roaming+profile+files&clearTAFilter=true
I disabled offline files but it didn't solve my problem. It only got rid of the annoying blue swirlies on the icons and a message that was coming up every once in a while that a machine was suddenly offline. While that is all well and good, my users are getting downright MAD that they can't delete files from their desktop. Many of them use the desktop as a temporary staging area for files used during the day and deleted at the end of the day so now their desktop is filling up and they can't delete files.
If I want to get something to STAY deleted, I have to delete it from the desktop (which deletes it off the server) then I have to go into the Documents & Settings folder and find the matching profile on the computer and delete it there.
I had thought that was the point of a roaming profile!?!? To not have to worry about anything local on the machine.
I would assume that deleting the local profile when the user logs off using a GPO would take care of the problem but I am worried about what happens if the server goes down or something happens the user can't work.
Any suggestions? Please?
MJL
ASKER
I am redirecting all three: My Docs, Desktop, Application Data. I thought that with roaming profiles if you turned off Offline Files then there was no local profile.
I guess it is not the local profile being there that bothers me. It is that I can't delete files without manually deleting it in both locations. Is it just a defect in roaming profiles that you can't delete files? Or is there a setting somewhere to allow it without turning off local caches?
MJL
I guess it is not the local profile being there that bothers me. It is that I can't delete files without manually deleting it in both locations. Is it just a defect in roaming profiles that you can't delete files? Or is there a setting somewhere to allow it without turning off local caches?
MJL
Since you use redirection for Desktop then there should not be a desktop folder in documents and settings...is there a desktop folder??
I guess that there must be something wrong with the redirection!
Are u applying redirection through policy? Are u applying it correctly???
Try to exclude desktop and any other folder you redirerect from roaming
Check out :
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;814592
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Profile-Folder-Redirection-Windows-Server-2003.html
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/DepKit/2b24872a-05ca-41be-9887-33acc87a2056.mspx
I had the exact same problem. Here is what i did to fix it:
Go into GPO
User Configuration/Windows Settings/Folder Redirection/Desktop
Set Basic Redirection and Redierct to the local userprofile location
Next: Make sure you have set the path in: Computer Configuration\Administrati
Next: **THIS IS THE BIG ONE**
Computer Configuration\Administrati
I have the following settings:
Delete Cached copies of roaming profiles - Disabled
Only allow local user profiles - Disabled
Waite for remote user profile - Enabled
Add the Administrators Security Group to roaming user profiles - Enabled
That should be it. If this doesn't work then their is a GPO setting somewhere I have overlooked. The way I tested mine is that i log into TS and create a file via RDP ( I am also watching two folders on the server, 1. Local User Profile\Desktop 2. Roaming Profile\Desktop) When i create the file on my desktop it will create the file in the Local User Profile. Then when i log off it will copy it to the Roaming Profile. Then when i log on they are both there, when i delete the file it will delete from the Local Profile and then when i log off it will delete from the Roaming Profile.
Let me know if you need more assistance
Go into GPO
User Configuration/Windows Settings/Folder Redirection/Desktop
Set Basic Redirection and Redierct to the local userprofile location
Next: Make sure you have set the path in: Computer Configuration\Administrati
Next: **THIS IS THE BIG ONE**
Computer Configuration\Administrati
I have the following settings:
Delete Cached copies of roaming profiles - Disabled
Only allow local user profiles - Disabled
Waite for remote user profile - Enabled
Add the Administrators Security Group to roaming user profiles - Enabled
That should be it. If this doesn't work then their is a GPO setting somewhere I have overlooked. The way I tested mine is that i log into TS and create a file via RDP ( I am also watching two folders on the server, 1. Local User Profile\Desktop 2. Roaming Profile\Desktop) When i create the file on my desktop it will create the file in the Local User Profile. Then when i log off it will copy it to the Roaming Profile. Then when i log on they are both there, when i delete the file it will delete from the Local Profile and then when i log off it will delete from the Roaming Profile.
Let me know if you need more assistance
ASKER
You said:
" Next: Make sure you have set the path in: Computer Configuration\Administrati
Would this be in the following format?:
\\SERVER\USER_FOLDERS\%USE
MJL
" Next: Make sure you have set the path in: Computer Configuration\Administrati
Would this be in the following format?:
\\SERVER\USER_FOLDERS\%USE
MJL
mine is just \\server\folder
no %username% - I set that when i create a user
no %username% - I set that when i create a user
ASKER
I performed all the steps you outlined and it made no changes to the situation. I did gpupdate on the server and gpupdate /force on the client and then logged out last night then loggedback in this morning. and my deleted files were back again.
It appears that the desktop that I see and work with is the version sitting on the server. I know this because if I add or delete a file from the desktop, the changes are reflected in the server copy of the desktop, not the local one. However, when I log out and back in or reboot, any files I added are added to the local profile and any files I deleted that still reside in the local desktop folder are copied back to the server desktop folder.
Why doesn't the server copy of the desktop update the local copy of the desktop to let it know a file was deleted so that the local copy of the profile will delete it too??
MJL
It appears that the desktop that I see and work with is the version sitting on the server. I know this because if I add or delete a file from the desktop, the changes are reflected in the server copy of the desktop, not the local one. However, when I log out and back in or reboot, any files I added are added to the local profile and any files I deleted that still reside in the local desktop folder are copied back to the server desktop folder.
Why doesn't the server copy of the desktop update the local copy of the desktop to let it know a file was deleted so that the local copy of the profile will delete it too??
MJL
I exported my terminal server GPO settings here:
http://www.sportchassis.com/incoming/Terminal%20Server%20Policy.htm
Take a look at them and see if that helps. Save the file if you want, i wont leave it out there forever.
I know exactly what you are talking about, that is the exact problem I was having with the desktop. I am just not sure which settings i changed to make it work. Have a look at the policy and i will also continue to look.
Ryan
http://www.sportchassis.com/incoming/Terminal%20Server%20Policy.htm
Take a look at them and see if that helps. Save the file if you want, i wont leave it out there forever.
I know exactly what you are talking about, that is the exact problem I was having with the desktop. I am just not sure which settings i changed to make it work. Have a look at the policy and i will also continue to look.
Ryan
ASKER
umm....That link just gives me a bunch of garbage text...is there something special I am supposed to do?
MJL
MJL
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ASKER
I'm sorry, I haven't had time to address this issue lately, other bigger projects have taken up my time. I accepted the answer as I believe it is there but havn't had the time to look yet. I have actually found that it must be something I changed from default because I am setting up another domain and the problem does not exist in that domain with the default configuration. Roaming Profiles & Folder Redirection behave as they should so something I changed at some point had to cause it.
Thank you, for all the great information!
MJL
Thank you, for all the great information!
MJL
Remember that the roaming profiles do not copy back to the server they just update the differences.
There is a new feature in Windows 2003 Server group policy, the delete of roaming cache! you can find it with GP editor in Computer configuration - administrative templates - user profiles and enable it. That is the one way to do it. Remember to enter the gpudate /force command in prompt mode to avoid several restarts.
the other way is to configure the registry of the workstations one by one take a look at the link
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/2000/server/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/2000/server/reskit/en-us/regentry/58534.asp