Windows Profile How Do I?'s(http://groups.haas.berkeley.edu/HCS/howdoi/profiles/w_profiles_faq.htm)

Q. What's a Windows profile?

A Windows user's profile allows the user to have a personalized desktop environment. The desktop environment includes the content and arrangement of Start Menu groups, screen colors, desktop shortcuts, network and printer connections, and mouse / keyboard settings. When a new user logs onto a computer, a profile is created automatically. While a user is logged on, changes made to the desktop environment are saved to their user profile.

Q. What types of profiles are available?

In a network of computers like Haas, profiles can be either Local or Roaming. Local profiles are only stored on the computer to which you log in. Roaming profiles are copied from your local computer to a network server when you log off, and are copied from the server to any Haas domain computer you may log in to in the future.

Q. How do profiles affect my computers performance?

Since Roaming profiles are downloaded when a user logs on, and uploaded when the user logs off, large user profiles degrade system performance. Not only do they cause long login delays for the user, but they use excessive network capacity and waste the processing power of the profile servers, degrading system performance for all users. Using Local Profiles,and limiting the profile size shorten the time it takes to log on and off and improve system performance for all users.

Q. How large are typical profiles?

Faculty and staff Roaming profiles are currently not limited. Some have grown to be in excess of 1400 megabytes. In comparison, students profiles are limited to 4.5 megabytes, which has

proven to be adequate for most purposes. In discussions at meetings of the three Technology Advisory Committees, the idea of limiting Staff and Faculty Roaming Profile size was accepted as necessary to avoid degradation of network responsiveness.

Q. Am I using a Local or a Roaming profile?

Follow the instructions for your operating system at:

Windows 2000

Windows XP

to determine what type profile you are using.

Q. How large is my profile?

The instructions for your operating system at

Windows 2000

Windows XP

will also show you your profile size.

Q. How can I control my profile size?

Avoid creating files or directories on the desktop, these files will be saved in your Roaming profile. Store these files in your home directory (H:).

Monitor your profile quota to insure you will not be over and possibly create further problems with your Roaming profile.

Be sure to log out each day, this will keep your profile up to date. Never save data to your profile. Some programs will prompt you to save files in the

Windows "Personal" folder, this folder is located in your profile directory. Always save to your local workstation or home directory on the data server (H:).

Be sure to periodically clear your "Recent Documents" list.

Q. How can I reduce my profile size?

You can reduce your profile size by using Windows Explorer to manage your Windows Profile.

Q. Would a Local or a Roaming profile be best for me?

HCS recommends that Faculty and Staff who normally log into only one workstation use a Local Profile so that their login will be faster. If you frequently use more than one computer and want access to your desktop icons and user settings wherever you log in, you should use a Roaming Profile.

Q. How can I get assistance and information on my profile?

For assistance with your profile, please contact the Helpdesk at http://helpdesk.haas.berkeley.edu, phone 510/642-0434 or toll free 866/642-0434.

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to the HCS Helpdesk.

Last modified: July 2003Last modified by: R. Lozano

 

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Have a rough idea of what Windows user profiles are, but a bit fuzzy on the details?  This article will provide an overview of Windows user profiles, and outline the different types of profiles and their significance.

An Overview of Windows Profiles

What is a Windows Profile?( http://www.tricerat.com/solution/topic/windowsprofiles)

A Windows profile is simply a record of user-related data characterizing a user’s computing environment. This record may include display and application settings, along with network connections. What the user sees on the screen and what the user has access to when they log on is all determined by how the system administrator has the profile configured.

Are there different types of Windows profiles?

Yes, there are three different types of Windows profiles: local, mandatory, and roaming.

Local Profiles: profiles that are saved on a single computer. Users cannot access their profile from any other machine, regardless of whether the machine is attached to the network or not.

Mandatory Profiles: profiles that cannot be saved from one session to the next. A user may utilize any machine that is connected to the network. However, once a user logs off, any setting preferences made to the profile is permanently lost and must be reinstated at every log on. This ensures a profile will remain small and easy to manage, but renders users powerless from customizing their profile to their liking.

Roaming Profiles: do just what the name implies—they move around with you. If you log on to one computer today, and a different computer tomorrow, you're making use of a roaming profile to load your customized user settings. Roaming profiles are saved on the network so when you log on to any networked computer, your personalized desktop is loaded no matter what machine you're on. Users have full freedom of what’s on their profile, which is convenient for them, but can lead to problems such as slow log on times and server crashes.

How do Windows profiles work with VDI?

In a VDI environment, the user's desktop is created as a 'clone' of the master image that is stored on the server. In order to deliver the customized desktop to the user, the clone desktop is combined with the roaming profile and the personalized desktop appears on the client machine.

triCerat’s Simplify Profiles Finds a Middle Ground

Both mandatory and roaming profiles have good and bad things to offer, both for the sys admin and end user. triCerat has a profiles solution to fit any organization with Simplify Profiles and Profiles Acceleration Technology (PAT). triCerat's solutions combine the best of both profile types into one powerful program. Users can customize and save their settings without endangering the network, and system administrators gain control by having the final approval on the profile specific elements that are saved.

Simplify Profiles gives administrators complete control of windows profiles by allowing them to select exactly what profile sections are saved, keeping profiles smaller and minimizing corruption issues. PAT slashes login times and also reduces profile corruption with an installation and implementation process that is remarkably simple and effective.