System Preparation Tool Does Not Save Desktop Preferences (192855)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
This article was previously published under Q192855

SYMPTOMS

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

CAUSE

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

RESOLUTION

If you do not use roaming profiles and you need to have the same desktop preferences as the administrator:
  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 a 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 by 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 administrator logs on, Windows NT uses the profile of the administrator that is located in the %SystemRoot%\Profiles folder and the SID in the Ntuser.dat file matches.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/14/2003
Keywords:kbbug kbpending KB192855
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.