The A+ Certification & PC Repair Handbook (Charles River Media Networking/Security)

Windows NT and Windows 2000 utilize user profiles to customize and provide Desktop environments for computers and users. Specific settings for the network, printers, modems, and display options, as well as many other settings can be configured to provide special Desktop atmospheres for users. Three types of user profiles can be implemented in Windows 2000: local profiles, roaming profiles, and mandatory profiles.

Local profiles: When a user first logs on to a Windows 2000 system, a local user profile is automatically created for that specific user. This profile is stored on the local machine on the system partition in the ROOT\Documents and Settings folder. For example, if Windows 2000 were installed on the C drive, and a user named JoeShmo logged on to the system, a local profile for JoeShmo would be created. The profile and its settings would be stored in C:\Documents and Settings\JoeShmo. A local user profile is created for any other user who logs on to the same system. Their profile will also be stored in the C:\Documents and Settings folder.

Roaming profiles: Roaming user profiles are created and stored on network servers in order to provide identical environments for users wherever they log on to the network. For example, an administrator could create a profile for a user named SteveBleile. The administrator would then copy the profile for SteveBleile to a profile server. The profile would then be automatically copied to any system that the user SteveBleile logs on to. Any settings or changes that have been made by the user SteveBleile will be copied back to the profile server and presented the next time the user logs on to the network.

Mandatory profiles: A mandatory profile is similar to a roaming user profile. The main difference is that changes to settings made by the user are not copied back to the profile server when the user logs off the system. Administrators provide a controlled environment for users by implementing mandatory user profiles. A user gets the same Desktop (which was created by the administrator) wherever he or she logs on to the network.

Hardware Profiles

When you install Windows 2000, a hardware profile named Profile 1 is automatically created. This profile is used to tell your operating system what hardware devices (and their settings) are to be used when your system is started.

Hardware Profiles are commonly implemented with the use of laptop or portable computer systems. Laptops are often used with docking stations, which are typically configured with devices such as printers, modems, NICs, or CD-ROMs. A docked hardware profile can be created on a laptop system to automatically recognize all devices attached to a docking station when the laptop is inserted into the docking station. Docking stations are typically used at home or at the office. A more suitable hardware profile, called undocked, can be created for a laptop when the laptop is not being used with a docking station. This hardware profile loads only the devices, drivers, and settings needed when you are not connected to the docking station. Hardware profiles can be managed by selecting Control Panel > System > Hardware > Hardware Profiles.