Introduction to Configuration and Management

In Windows 2000 Professional, user profiles automatically create and maintain the desktop settings for each user's work environment on the local computer. A user profile is created for each user when the user logs on to a computer for the first time.

User profiles include all user-specific settings of a user's Windows 2000 Professional environment, including program items, screen colors, network connections, printer connections, mouse settings, window size and position, and desktop preferences.

User profiles provide several advantages to users. For example, when users log on to their workstations, they receive the desktop settings as they existed when they logged off. Also, when several users log on to the same computer, each receives a customized desktop.

There are three types of user profiles, which are as follows:

Local User Profile    This profile is automatically created the first time a user logs on to the computer, and it is stored on the computer's local hard drive. Any changes made to the local user profile are specific to the computer where the change was made.

Roaming User Profile    You, as the administrator, create this profile, and store it on a network server. This profile is available when a user logs on to any computer on the network. Any changes made to roaming user profiles are automatically updated on the server when the user logs off.

Mandatory User Profile    Mandatory user profiles are stored on a network server and are downloaded each time the user logs on. This profile does not update when the user logs off. It is useful for situations where consistent or job-specific settings are needed Only administrators can make changes to mandatory user profiles. If the mandatory user profile is unavailable, the user cannot log on.

Important

Group policy settings take precedence over user settings.

For more information about roaming user profiles and mandatory user profiles, see Defining Client Administration and Configuration Standards in the Deployment Planning Guide .