XP Profiles/Domain
Discussion
Hope someone can help.
Ok, we are just upgrading all our clients to XP at last. Most are simple but I can foresee a problem with one particular machine that is shared by two users. It is currently configured with a local admin account and two domain user accounts (although I havent installed or configured all their apps yet). Basically I want the two domain users to have their profiles pretty much the same, but each user has to be able to access their own exchange mailbox under their own domain login account. I'd also like each user to have MS Word configured with their own user information. Now, I could set up everything how I want it for one user and then copy the profile, but this would also copy the outlook/exchange and MS Word settings wouldnt it? Thus the 2nd user wouldnt be able to access their mailbox and any docs they create would show the author as the other user. I can see a couple of ways around the email issue - either manually change mail settings in control panel after swapping users, or allow one user to use web interface instead to access their mail, but there must be a better way around this without resorting to roaming profiles (which are a pain in the arse in my experience). They're running office 2003 standard edition btw and connecting to exchange 2000. Am I missing something really obvious here?
Ok, we are just upgrading all our clients to XP at last. Most are simple but I can foresee a problem with one particular machine that is shared by two users. It is currently configured with a local admin account and two domain user accounts (although I havent installed or configured all their apps yet). Basically I want the two domain users to have their profiles pretty much the same, but each user has to be able to access their own exchange mailbox under their own domain login account. I'd also like each user to have MS Word configured with their own user information. Now, I could set up everything how I want it for one user and then copy the profile, but this would also copy the outlook/exchange and MS Word settings wouldnt it? Thus the 2nd user wouldnt be able to access their mailbox and any docs they create would show the author as the other user. I can see a couple of ways around the email issue - either manually change mail settings in control panel after swapping users, or allow one user to use web interface instead to access their mail, but there must be a better way around this without resorting to roaming profiles (which are a pain in the arse in my experience). They're running office 2003 standard edition btw and connecting to exchange 2000. Am I missing something really obvious here?
I don't think I understand the question fully, but I'll have a go anyway.
If you don't have office installed, then the way I would do this is:
1) Create a Transform file for office which automatically enters an email server in your org and specifies the username as the mailbox (assuming your exchange aliases=username in AD)
2) Install Office using the transform file.
3) Don't configure the user settings for office (it'll do it automatically when word/outlook is opened).
or, just write a script using modprof.exe and regedit to enter the correct information on logon.
Copying profiles is not the way to go.
If you're upgrading rather than reinstalling, then why wouldn't the settings remain? If you're reinstalling, use the files and settings wizard to export/import the users profiles.
D
If you don't have office installed, then the way I would do this is:
1) Create a Transform file for office which automatically enters an email server in your org and specifies the username as the mailbox (assuming your exchange aliases=username in AD)
2) Install Office using the transform file.
3) Don't configure the user settings for office (it'll do it automatically when word/outlook is opened).
or, just write a script using modprof.exe and regedit to enter the correct information on logon.
Copying profiles is not the way to go.
If you're upgrading rather than reinstalling, then why wouldn't the settings remain? If you're reinstalling, use the files and settings wizard to export/import the users profiles.
D
slinky said:
ISTR that outlook connects to an exchange server with whatever user credentials you logged onto that machine with (I might be wrong on that one!)
By default, outlook will prompt you to setup a new email account (which means specifying, Exchange, mailbox and exchange server).
It won't do it automatically by default.
If you create a profile that way, it will pass your credentials to the mail server to authenticate (using the mailbox you specified previously).
You may have been thinking about Outlook Web Access (you just point your browser to the URL and it automatically looks up your mailbox).
D
What are you upgrading from? It sounds like Windows 9X/Me. All NT based operating systems from Microsoft and that includes XP are profile dependant. That means changes made by one user stay with that user. Desktop background, Office settings and Outlook Settings are based on the Users login and held seperatley to other users. If you have a NT/2000/2003 server then the Profile can be created on the Server and the main settings downloaded to the PC. You also have to "register" the PC with the Server Domain/Active Directory in order for the PC to connect to it. Its a security feature that stops unregistered PC's connecting to your network.
Sorry, didnt make post clear, but sounds like DeeJay is spot on. This particular computer has been totally replaced. All I've done so far is re-install the OS (OEM install always comes with loads of crap), set up the local admin account, networked it and added the two domain users. No office 2003 software has yet been installed.
Am I right in saying I need the Custom Installation Wizard from the resource kit to create transorms? When the installer package is built I guess I install it on a per-machine basis (ie under the local admin account)?
Edited to say I just downloaded the resource kit containing the custom Install Wizard and also the Policy Template Files and Deployment Planning Tools which contains a spreadsheet showing all the available settings for CIW and their relevant registry values. I'll install office on a test machine, create the installer and then try it out on the target machine.
>> Edited by jamiet on Thursday 24th February 12:20
Am I right in saying I need the Custom Installation Wizard from the resource kit to create transorms? When the installer package is built I guess I install it on a per-machine basis (ie under the local admin account)?
Edited to say I just downloaded the resource kit containing the custom Install Wizard and also the Policy Template Files and Deployment Planning Tools which contains a spreadsheet showing all the available settings for CIW and their relevant registry values. I'll install office on a test machine, create the installer and then try it out on the target machine.
>> Edited by jamiet on Thursday 24th February 12:20
erm sorry - forgot to mention that. IIRC, you get to the point where it asks where you want to specify the installation location and .msi it's looking for doesn't exist.
2 options, either use the version of Outlook on the Exchange sp2 CD (IIRC), or I believe you can specify the custom settings file directly with Outlook 2002+.
www.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/24675/24675.html is also worth a read.
2 options, either use the version of Outlook on the Exchange sp2 CD (IIRC), or I believe you can specify the custom settings file directly with Outlook 2002+.
www.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/24675/24675.html is also worth a read.
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