Are Redirected Folders Worth The Pain And Suffering?
I guess I have never really been a fan of redirected folders. I tried it once about 10 years ago on a 2003 Server and it was OK but I wasn't impressed. Now I have tried it a second time on a Windows 2012 Standard Server with 5 Windows 7 Professional 64-bit workstations and I am even less impressed.
The original GPO worked on four of the five workstations. The fifth workstation has problems that were never resolved. I had the GPO set to put the folders back on the local hard drive should the policy be removed. I removed the policy and it was a mixed bag One workstation reverted back to being on the local hard drive, two workstations it put the Documents back but left Music, Pictures and Videos redirected and it didn't do anything to the last two workstations. It was a mess! So......
1) I was under the impression that almost everyone uses folder redirection. It is the "Industry Standard". Is that true?
2) If it is true did I just get unlucky or are redirected folders about as flakey as a three dollar bill? I was surprised. I goggled redirected folder problems and was flooded.
3) Is there a utility or something that I can run on these 5 workstations that will put the libraries back on the local C: drive and end redirection because removing the GPO sure didn't do it.
The original GPO worked on four of the five workstations. The fifth workstation has problems that were never resolved. I had the GPO set to put the folders back on the local hard drive should the policy be removed. I removed the policy and it was a mixed bag One workstation reverted back to being on the local hard drive, two workstations it put the Documents back but left Music, Pictures and Videos redirected and it didn't do anything to the last two workstations. It was a mess! So......
1) I was under the impression that almost everyone uses folder redirection. It is the "Industry Standard". Is that true?
2) If it is true did I just get unlucky or are redirected folders about as flakey as a three dollar bill? I was surprised. I goggled redirected folder problems and was flooded.
3) Is there a utility or something that I can run on these 5 workstations that will put the libraries back on the local C: drive and end redirection because removing the GPO sure didn't do it.
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I don't have just 5 workstations. I actually have 130. I just picked on one department (5 computers) in case something went wrong I wouldn't have 130 to worry about just 5.
I didn't get an answer from above. If you don't use redirected folders you run the risk of not backing up users critical data like Documents. How are IT firms backing up these things if they aren't using redirected folders?
I didn't get an answer from above. If you don't use redirected folders you run the risk of not backing up users critical data like Documents. How are IT firms backing up these things if they aren't using redirected folders?
I use a scheduled task to run a script that copies the data from the PCs to a backup location on the server. Initially it is a lot of work to setup but once it is setup it is easy to maintain and change over time as users and systems change.
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I agree with the above--it does take some time to work out all the bugs but once you have them worked out it works.
ASKER
I am happy to see some support for redirected folders. Users can't be trusted to follow instructions as to where to keep stuff. Redirected folders seems to be a way to force compliance.
I give everyone a home folder Y: and with XP I just right clicked on their "My Documents" and changed the path to Y:\My Documents. No that I am upgrading workstations to Windows 7 Y:\My Documents is still there but the libraries are pointing to their local profile and changing all four libraries to point to Y: would be a little tedious on 130 workstations. Redirected folders does seem the way to go. It changes the libraries for you and sets the default save location to the redirected folder to boot.
I give everyone a home folder Y: and with XP I just right clicked on their "My Documents" and changed the path to Y:\My Documents. No that I am upgrading workstations to Windows 7 Y:\My Documents is still there but the libraries are pointing to their local profile and changing all four libraries to point to Y: would be a little tedious on 130 workstations. Redirected folders does seem the way to go. It changes the libraries for you and sets the default save location to the redirected folder to boot.
I see no mention in this question of Small Business Server, but I notice some of your past questions relate to it. I am assuming with 130 workstations it is not SBS but if it is make sure you use the Wizard in the SBS console.
You should use the GPO for folder redirection, I would just add gpupdate /force to one of your logon scripts to make sure the new policies are enforced. If they are not, check the system logs to see what folder redirection errors are generated.
ASKER
Now when I migrate someone from XP to Windows 7 Y:\My Documents is still there but the default open/save is now in the Document Library in their local profile.
I am a little confused by your response to #2. When I redirect it changes the Library path to the server and sets it as the default pen/save. What do you mean by "it does not change the documents folder redirection themselves"?