Auto Arrange Activates Itself in Copied User Profiles

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When copying a profile from a reference account to Default User, the Auto Arrange attribute activates for all users using that copied profile.

For example:

Create a reference account that contains all the desktop properties wanted for new users. Ensure that Auto Arrange is not selected and some icons are placed in the center of the screen. Log off and then log on as administrator. In Control Panel, double-click the System icon. Click the User Profiles tab and select the profile for the reference account. Click Copy To and select %SystemRoot%\Profiles\Default User.

Create a new user account and log on as that user. You will find that the new user has all the desktop properties needed; however, any icons that had been placed in certain locations in the original profile are now all arranged on the left side of the screen. The Auto Arrange property has automatically been applied whether it was manually selected or not.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.