Copy Account Settings/Config

BruceKrymow · 12th April 2008

I have a Vista Business primary admin account set up w/ the Desktop, display settings & all the configurations the way I want them to be.

On the same workstation, there are 4 new user accounts created. Rather than sign in and reconfigure each user account manually from scratch, is there a way to copy all the settings from the primary admin user to the other user accounts so that they will all be identical?

**noahdfear** · 12th April 2008

Haven't tried it or explored it's options, but the Windows Easy Transfer Companion might be configurable enough to do the job.

BruceKrymow · 13th April 2008

Dave - Nice suggestion. Tried the new Easy Transfer program, but it seems it will only transfer files and settings from one Windows computer to another, not profile settings from the same computer's account to another account.

Gonna use a method for a similar issue in this thread here:

www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?p=393235

**noahdfear** · 13th April 2008

Ah well, it was worth a shot. Thanks for testing for us though! Now we know what it won't do.

**broni** · 14th April 2008

To create a duplicate of an user profile with a different user name, try this:

* Create a new user account
* Logon to that account to initialize the newly created profile
* Log off from the newly created profile
* Login as built-in Administrator (original account)
* Open Control Panel \ System applet
* Click the Advanced tab
* Click Settings under User Profiles
* Select a profile to copy from and choose Copy To
* Browse to the profile to copy to (C:\Users\NewUserName)

A new profile is now created which is the duplicate of your user profile.

BruceKrymow · 14th April 2008

Hi, Broni ~

I created a third account to use the steps outlined to copy the Admin profile to the new profile, but when I tried to log into the account to see if the new copied profile took, Windows immediately logged me out & hung on System Event Notification Service for awhile before going back to the Vista welcome screen.

Is there a way around this?

EDIT:

Yes! There is a way around this --> The secret is to turn of UAC in the Admin account & reboot. Recreate new accounts & start over --> the profile sticks.

Recap:

- Delete all the accounts except the Admin with all the settings the way you want them
- Turn off the UAC in Control Panel > User Accounts > reboot
- Create two new user accounts, one (let's call it 'Setup') for using to login since you can't copy the Admin profile while you are in it & one to copy the Admin profile to (let's call it 'NewUser')
- Logon to each of the new 'Setup' & 'NewUser' accounts to initialize them & then log off
- Login as 'Setup'
- Open Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings
- Click 'Advanced' tab > 'Settings' button under 'User Profiles'
- Select the Admin profile > click 'Copy To...' button
- Click 'Browse' button > navigate to 'NewUser' (C:\Users\NewUser')
- Click 'OK' > 'Yes' to 'Confirm Copy' > 'OK' > 'OK'
- Logoff 'Setup' > login to 'NewUser'

A new profile is now created which is identical in feel, look, settings & config to the Admin account.

**broni** · 14th April 2008

Good job