A user profile contains personal files, settings, and desktop environment for a Windows user account.
C:\Users\Username)Use Case: Home users, standalone PCs
\\server\profiles\user)Use Case: Domain users in enterprise environments
Setup Tip: Rename ntuser.dat to ntuser.man to make profile mandatory
Use Case: Public/shared computers, training rooms
Fix: Check registry (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList) and user permissions
| Type | Persistent | Stored Where? | Changes Saved? | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | Yes | Local PC | Yes | Home/single users |
| Roaming | Yes | Network share | Yes | Domain users (multi-PC) |
| Mandatory | No | Network share (read-only) | No | Kiosks, shared workstations |
| Temporary | No | Local (disposable session) | No | Error recovery only |
\\server\profiles$) \\server\profiles$\%username%
NTUSER.DAT – Registry hive for user settings
GPO (Group Policy Object) – Can enforce profile types
Folder Redirection – Moves Documents/Desktop to server for performance
Profile Quotas – Limit profile size to reduce sync times