Moving user redirected my documents to a new server drive/share

So if I have the two settings set correctly that you outlined in step 1, I can change the share and the policy will automatically move the files from the older server share to the new server share? This is what I expected.

Once this starts happening and users are logging in, will it allow them to log in and work while the files move or will they be stuck at a log on screen waiting? I ask this because if the users are going to wait, then the user with the large my documents folder may be waiting a while?

Thanks,

Justin

They will be stuck at the logon screen.

Because you are running Windows 7, you can get around this. Enable offline files for your desktops. give it at least two reboots/logins for everything to cache.

Then you can change the folder redirection settings. Windows 7+ will let a user login first - use the offline file cache - move documents to new share. It is really slick!

Most of the users are on Windows 7 but there are a few SP XP3 machines out there. So if they use XP, they will be stuck at the log on screen and windows 7 will just let them log on and do it in the background? Will XP still be stuck at the log on screen if offline files are enabled?

Offline files is enabled for all computers already.

Thanks,

Justin

Correct.

Windows 7 - fast
Windows XP - wait at login screen.

I will give this a try and let you know.

Thanks,

Justin

I just changed this setting by changing the path the folders are redirected to the new path and leaving it on the create a sub folder using the username setting. I did a gpupdate /force and it says it needs to apply before the user logs on and when I check RSOP, the old settings are still applied. Does this mean I just need to leave the computer at the control alt delete screen until the group policy has time to apply? Then I can log in  and the folders will redirect?

Thanks,

Justin

It should take two logins for the settings to take effect.

After multiple logins the settings are still not applying. I even logged in as a new test user and instead of my documents pointing to the new share I setup as \\server\share$, it points to the old my documents share. The share can be a hidden share right? I don't see that causing any issues. Since I just went into GP and left the settings alone, except for changing the path, I am wondering if that is not the correct way to do it? Since that is not working, what is the next best path to take so that documents are redirected without causing the users trouble?

A hidden share is fine.

Do these two things:

1. On a client machine - run a gpresult /h Report.htm /f. Upload the report.htm file here.

2. Export your GPO that configures folder redirection. Save that report here.

I will try to get that report soon. Now I am wondering if this is not going back to a larger issue at the moment. I remember changing the GP as I described above at the site the changes needed to be made at. Now when I look at GP for that site, the changes were undone and the settings are back to the way they used to be. If I check that same policy setting at our HQ site, the redirected folders settings are blank. It seems very weird. Where can I check the status of GP between the DC's?

Do you have a windows 8 machine at hand? If so, launch GPMC - select your domain. Then press detect now.

I don't have windows 8 available immediately. I logged into the DC at the site I needed the my documents moved at. Since the settings were not there, I modified them again to point to the new location. I am going to try this again. I logged in as a test user and it worked. I am now going to try and see if it works for another real user and i'll report back.

Cool! Keep me updated!

So now the my videos, pictures, and music folder are synced to the new share but the my documents won't. BAsically the only folder I care about is not working. The error is below.

Failed to apply policy and redirect folder "Documents" to "\\gswlodc1\wlusers$\michaeld\My Documents".
 Redirection options=0x9239.
 The following error occurred: "Unexpected error from PerformRedirection".
 Error details: "The filename or extension is too long.
".

I did as oliver901 suggested and unchecked the box that says "move documents to new locations," even though that is the opposite of what I wanted done. Once I did that, the users my documents folder redirected to the new locations share. The only issue with this is now I have to manually move the users my documents one by one, which is ridiculous. I am doing this now for one user that has a 70GB my documents folder. The rest of the users are much smaller.

Now that I only need to move documents manually, assuming the rest of the user my documents  will redirect correctly, can I just copy the files from the old share to the new share and the permissions and everything necessary should stay the same?

Thanks,

Justin

You may want to use robocopy or xcopy. you can specify options to keep ownership and permissions.