Change the path to a user's home directory

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To change the path to a user's home directory

  • Using Group Policies (best practice)

  • Using Terminal Services Extension to Local Users and Groups

Using Group Policies (best practice)

  1. Choose from the following:

    • For a domain user account, from a Domain Controller, open Active Directory Users and Computers.

      In the console tree, right click the domain node, and then click properties. In the Group Policy tab, double-click the Group Policy object, or click Edit.

    Important

    • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

    • For a local user account, open Group Policy.

  2. In the Group Policy console tree, click Terminal Services under Computer Configuration.

    Where?

    • Local Computer Policy/Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Terminal Services

    Important

    • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.
  3. Double-click the TS User Home Directory setting, and then click Enabled.

  4. In the Location box, click the location for the Terminal Services home directory.

  5. In the Home Dir Root Path box, type the root path for the Terminal Services home directory.

  6. If the root path is on the network, click the drive letter for the mapped drive in the Drive Letter box. Click OK.

    Important

    • You should thoroughly test any changes you make to Group Policy settings before applying them to users or computers. For more information on testing policy settings, see Resultant Set of Policy.

Using Terminal Services Extension to Local Users and Groups

  1. Choose from the following:

    • For a domain user account, open Active Directory Users and Computers.

      In the console tree, expand the domain node, and then click the folder in which the user is located.

    Important

    • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

    • For a local user account, open Computer Management (Local).

      In the console tree, click Users.

    Where?

    • Computer Management/System Tools/Local Users and Groups/Users

    Important

    • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.
  2. Double-click the user whose home directory you want to change.

  3. On the Terminal Services Profile tab, do one of the following:

    • If the Terminal Services home folder is on the local server, click Local path, and then type the path to the home directory.

    • If the Terminal Services home directory is on a network share, click Connect, select a drive to connect, and then type the network path.

Notes

  • To open Active Directory Users and Computers, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Active Directory Users and Computers. This procedure works only if the server has been promoted to a domain controller.

  • To open Computer Management, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Computer Management.

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Terminal Services users
Terminal Services Profile