System Preparation Tool Does Not Save Desktop Preferences

ID: Q192855

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you configure a Windows NT-based computer using the System Preparation (Sysprep) tool, your desktop preferences are not saved, except for the local administrator's preferences.


CAUSE

This behavior can occur when you use Sysprep to configure a Windows NT- based computer. Sysprep may delete any locally stored profile except the administrator's profile.


RESOLUTION

If you do not use roaming profiles and you need to have the same desktop preferences as the administrator, follow these steps:

  1. On the computer with the source installation files, log on as the local administrator.


  2. Select the desktop preferences for use as the default settings for all users.


  3. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  4. Double-click System, and then click User Profiles.


  5. Click Administrator, and then click Copy To.


  6. In the Copy Profile To box, type the following line:

    %systemroot%\profiles\default user


  7. Click Change.


  8. In the List Names From box, click the name of the current computer.


  9. Click Everyone, Click Add, and then click OK.



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Windows NT 4.0 System Preparation tool.


MORE INFORMATION

The desktop preferences are stored in an Ntuser.dat file that is specific to each user. When you run Sysprep on a computer, it changes the Security Identifiers (SIDs) on the local Ntuser.dat file for only the local administrator, and then any other Ntuser.dat files for users other than the administrator are deleted.


When you log on for the first time, Windows NT checks for a local profile in the %SystemRoot%\Profiles\%Username% folder. If Windows NT does not find one, a local profile is created using defaults from the %SystemRoot%\ Profiles\All Users folder and the %SystemRoot%\Profiles\Default User folder and your SID is appended to the new Ntuser.dat file.

Therefore, when the adminstrator logs on, Windows NT uses the administrator's profile located in the %SystemRoot%\Profiles folder and the SID in the Ntuser.dat file matches.

Additional query words: image duplicate cloning

Keywords : NTSrvWkst ntutil
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: February 18, 1999
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