[S.O.A.D.A.]

Hi,

I'm having trouble resolving this little issue - how to duplicate an already created and configured user account in XP (to create a new account with the same preferences / configurations). Followed some (somewhat vage) instructions I've found on the net, but it didn't work (I'm talking about Control Panel -> system -> Advanced -> User Profile: Settings and then Copy To....).

Any ideas on how it's done?

If anybody could recommend a good knowledge resource where I could read abut user accounts in Windows (NT based), that would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
SOADA

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Make a new account, log into it at least once, then use the Copy To feature from another account in the place you've mentioned, and browse to the profile to copy to which will be under C:\Documents and Settings.

Edited by Neil Jones, 27 April 2009 - 03:47 PM.

[Neil Jones]

Make a new account, log into it at least once, then use the Copy To feature from another account in the place you've mentioned, and browse to the profile to copy to which will be under C:\Documents and Settings.

Edited by Neil Jones, 27 April 2009 - 03:47 PM.

[S.O.A.D.A.]

So, do I need to 'Copy to' into the main account directory of the target account?
I've created an account ©, logged into it once, then logged into my admin account (a) and tried copying configuration from another account (b) into the new one ©c.
When I logged on to the target account after copying, it had even less of my default configurations than it had before copying. For some reason my Anti-Virus didn't start, etc. When I logged out and tried to log back on to my administrative account the logon screen malfunctioned and I had to reboot. So this method does not work, unless I'm missing something.

[Neil Jones]

The method does work but a lot may have to do with the state of the account in question. If it's damaged or corrupt it may not be possible to copy it in this fashion, in which case a manual transferring of the data and settings is all you can do. Many things in Windows don't work properly if they're used in a corrupt account.

Just for kicks, make a third account and copy the second acount to that one and see what happens.

[S.O.A.D.A.]

There is nothing on my system that is corrupt (new installation, all working well).
Well, one exception - the corporation that's created it seems pretty corrupt, but you can't delete it without losing EVERYTHING.

So, I need to 'Copy To' to the C:\Documents and Settings\username folder?
I'd really love to know which files contain the settings and just copy those I wish to duplicate manually.

SOADA

[S.O.A.D.A.]

Found this, where it basically says: while logged on to administrative account, copy all contents of source user folder (c:\documents and settings\source_user) to destination user folder (c:\documents and settings\destination_user), except for:

• Ntuser.dat
  
• Ntuser.dat.log
  
• Ntuser.ini

You need to create the target account and log on to it once before copying for the account folder to be created (they forgot to mention that). Although it may work if you just create the user and then create his folder manually before copying - should try that just to satisfy my curiosity....

Anyways - thatks Neil : )
SOADA