Mandatory user profiles do not work as expected on a Windows Embedded for Point of Service-based computer (910631)

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. A user who has a mandatory profile logs on to a Microsoft Windows Embedded for Point of Service-based computer. The Local Management Support option is selected on the Windows Embedded for Point of Service-based computer. In this scenario, the system always loads the local profile instead of the mandatory profile. If there is no local profile, a new profile is created. This new profile is based on the default user profile. The mandatory profile is not pulled as expected from the network where the mandatory profile is stored.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Windows Embedded for Point of Service has a policy to load local profiles for all users instead of a policy to first look for any mandatory profiles on the network.

RESOLUTION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk. To resolve this problem, delete the following entry in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\LocalProfile

Log off, and then log back on.

MORE INFORMATION

With mandatory user profiles, a user profile is created, customized, and then stored on a network share. When a user logs on to the client computer, the mandatory profile is downloaded to the local computer. The system uses this mandatory profile instead of using the local profile on the client computer. A user can modify the computer's profile when that user is logged on. However, these changes are not saved when the user logs off. For example, modifications to the computer's desktop settings are not saved. For more information about how to use mandatory user profiles, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307800 How to assign a mandatory user profile in Windows XP