WinXP User profiles question

[Shinova]

How do I copy a desktop profile (desktop backgroun, icons, general settings) of one user to another so that other user uses the same layout as the first user?

[Dalton]

First, creat the new profile.

Then, you could try using the XP Recovery Console. If you boot from disc, you can access it, and when you load up the console it'll ask you what drive you want to work on. Should only be one. There, you can type something like:

copy "C:\documents and settings\[userprofile]\*.*" "C:\documents and settings\[newuserprofile]\*.*"

Might work, might cause a horrible crash. In either case, make some backups.

[Xon]

First, creat the new profile.

Then, you could try using the XP Recovery Console. If you boot from disc, you can access it, and when you load up the console it'll ask you what drive you want to work on. Should only be one. There, you can type something like:

copy "C:\documents and settings\[userprofile]\*.*" "C:\documents and settings\[newuserprofile]\*.*"

Might work, might cause a horrible crash. In either case, make some backups.

Or instead of resorting to booting up in XP recovery console,

My Computer->Properties->
Advanced->User Profile section->
"settings" button-> Select the profile you want to copy->"Copy to" button
-> fill in the new path under "C:\documents and settings\[newuserprofile]"-> "OK"
Might want to change who can use it, but thats secondary.

Then just login with the new account, and it *should* use the stuff you just copied.

[Dalton]

If it isn't the admin account, yeah.

[Xon]

If it isn't the admin account, yeah.

Even works for an admin account. When I tested that, I actually copied the default admin account.

Its just nothing of the account you are going to copy may be loaded or in use. So do the copying just after loading windows XP.

And make sure you dont logon the new account before you copy the files!

[phongn]

Fix permissions if needed, too.