Set path for TS Roaming Profiles (for Windows XP), in the Profiles / User Environment forum on BrianMadden.com

Does anyone know how to get this setting to apply to remote desktop logons to Windows XP. I've tried and it doesn't seem to apply like it does when connectinig to a 2003 TS, even though the policy says at least XP Terminal Services.

There doesn't seem to be a way to set the standard User Profile Path via GPO.

Hi Patrick,

When using GP, the path for the TS roaming profile is stored in:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services\WFProfilePath

When using local policy on the Windows XP target machine, the path is stored in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\Rcp-tcp\WFProfilePath

I'm sure you've already done an RSOP query and confirmed that the policy is getting applied.

So, I suppose you could try using local policy. Perhaps Windows XP just ignores this value...

Good luck!

It looks like XP just ignores this policy setting. I've tried local policies & GPO.

I'm also troubleshooting this issue. I am trying to set the profile path for our VMware VDI environment. I already found that the VMware Tools Shared Folders feature prevents the cached copy of the local profile from being deleted during logoff on a Windows 2003 server. I check on XP and Shared Folders wasn't enabled. Do either of you have the VMware Tools or Netware Client installed?

I did notice that when you set the policy "TS User Home Directory" it creates the user directory.

I found the below MS article. When I connect and run the "query session" command on the XP machine it in fact is using Session ID 0 so it is not supported.

List of the Group Policies That Do Not Apply to the Console Session (Session ID 0)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304955

Have we all given up on trying to get this to work in XP? I've spent the last 8 hours trying to get "Set Path for TS roaming Profiles" to work on VDI using XenDesktop and PVS. It just seems like XP ignores this GPO, works perfectly in TS/Citrix....

This is not supported on XP.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get around this? Can something like Appsense Environment manager help with this?

1^St approach:

 

Assign group policies, Prevent Roaming Profile changes from propagating to the server setting and the Only allow local user profiles to their citrix servers, protecting them from using the mandatory profile and allowing for the use of the profile path field in the user AD account properties to point to the mandatory profile path so it can be utilized for the VDI (Windows XP) environment.

 

 

2^nd approach:

Overview

• Instead of using a Mandatory Profile, modify “Default User” on the XP template machine to suit your specific requirements.
• Change the users profile type from “Local” to “Temporary” at logon
• Set AD GPO for the VDI workstations to only allow “Local Profiles”

Prepare the Profile

·         Create a user account on the local machine

·         Logon to an XP workstation that has no applications or policies applied

·         Configure the desktop settings to meet with the corporate standards i.e. add Shortcuts, files, folders, appearance settings and start menu options.

·         Delete all files and folders that are not required within the profile these are located in C:\Documents and Settings\%Username%\

·         Use Regedit to remove any “Active Setup” settings, these are located in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\ActiveSetup\InstalledComponents.  See MS KB238441 for more information.

Copy the Profile to Default User

·         Logon to the XP Workstation as an administrator

·         Right Click My Computer, select Properties, select Advanced tab & click settings

·         Select the profile created earlier and click Copy to….

·         In the Copy profile field enter C:\Documents and Settings\Default User

·         Under Permitted to use, click change and add Authenticated Users, click Ok

 

This was my approach to dealing with this issue,hope it helps.