A. By default when a user logs on for the first time at a machine a directory under %systemroot%\profiles is created under the name of the user to hold the users profile, e.g. for user saviljo the area created would be %systemroot%\profiles\saviljo.
Problems arise if the directory already exists and so an alternate directory <user name>.nnn will be created, starting with 000. This mapping is stored in the registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. You can therefore force a user to use a specific profile area by performing the following:
- Start the registry editor (regedit.exe)
- Move to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
- Find the SID that relates to the user (check the ProfileImagePath value)
- Once found double click on ProfileImagePath and remove the .nnn, e.g.
%SystemRoot%\Profiles\garfield.000
to
%SystemRoot%\Profiles\garfield - Click OK
- Close the registry editor
The user should now login using the profile you originally copied for them. Once you are sure it works you can delete the <username>.nnn directory under %systemroot%\profiles. You should make sure the user has the right to user the original profile, for example if you have copied it to that location and granted rights accordingly.