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rmjcvelez

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Unable to synchronize offline files with Windows 2003 R2

Overview:
We recently decommissioned an old server that was running Windows 2003 SP1 (DC01).  The new server is running Windows 2003 R2 on new hardware (FS01).  We have a GPO for folder redirection for all users-our laptop users are configured for Offline files which synchronize during logging on and off.  All systems are XP Pro.  

Issue:
Our laptop systems continue to “try” and synchronize to the old server even though the synch process displays the correct path to the new server.

Here’s what I’ve tried:
Once the new server was online, I disabled offline files for the laptop users, selected the “Delete Files” option and deleted the necessary files, rebooted the laptop, and then re-enabled offline files.  I logoff and the system starts synchronizing My Documents with the users home directory on the server.  The synchronize process displays the correct path to the server and user directory (fs01\user$\user), however, once the synchronize completes, the error messages states that the process could not complete successfully because of an incorrect path to the old server (dc01\user$\user).  I then click on the “setup” button and the offline files point back to \\dc01\users$\user.


My assumption:
The path to the old server is not being updated in the registry on the laptop.  

Is there a way to manually set the laptop to point to the new server-perhaps a registry key?

Also, keep in mind that our original file server was 2003 sp1, the new server is R2.  Any chance of this being the cause?

Any other suggestions????

Thanks to all.



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rmjcvelez

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Thanks.
OK, I believe we've made progress.  Now instead of the sync process trying to connect to the old server, The sync errors while trying to connect to the correct server.  In otherwords, the files are trying to sychronize with the correct server-FS01\users$\user, the new error messages states "unable to make "File Name" available offline \\FS01\users$\user.  Access is denied".  

The users has full controll of his home directory, and the user can access his personal directory via H:\   (H:\ = \\FS01\users$\user)

Thanks again.
That might be this here:
Unnecessary Offline File Synchronization May Cause "Access Denied" Error Messages
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313323

I think I got it.  On a hunch, I made the user a member of the Domain Admin group, and Bang, Files and Folders began to synchronize without any errors.  I agained reviewed all permissions to home directories and all seemed ok.  I then hit MS technet and discovered the following article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B275461

I gave everyone, Read Permissions to the share and removed the user from the domain admin group.  Rebooted and all synchronized without errors.  

Thanks for helping me down this road.