Is there a way to have the same User ID on multiple PCs

I am using Win7 RC and will be moving most of our household PCs to Win7. I'm wondering if there is a way to create the same user ID on multiple machines so that no matter what machine a user logs onto they will see their same desktop and have access to their files, programs, bookmarks, same user rights/restrictions, etc.

This may be too much to hope for but thought I'd ask. Perhaps a home server is required or maybe use of Win7 file sharing could work?

I believe you mean you want to set up roaming user profiles.

Haven't done it myself, but do believe you'd essentially need to set up some form of centralized server.

Roaming user profile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roaming Profiles and Folder Redirection with Windows 7

Roaming Profile Issues on Windows 7

timber said:

I am using Win7 RC and will be moving most of our household PCs to Win7. I'm wondering if there is a way to create the same user ID on multiple machines so that no matter what machine a user logs onto they will see their same desktop and have access to their files, programs, bookmarks, same user rights/restrictions, etc.

This may be too much to hope for but thought I'd ask. Perhaps a home server is required or maybe use of Win7 file sharing could work?

Timber

Roaming profile is one way to do it. Another is to use a remote desktop connection to log onto your machine from where ever you are. The remote control app I use is called team viewer and its pretty bulletproof.

Ken

Thanks. I'll check out roaming profiles. ZigZag - how is the experience and speed on remote desktop? I have used GoToMyPC in the past and it is slow and doesn't quite replicate the exact feel of one's own desktop.

timber said:

Thanks. I'll check out roaming profiles. ZigZag - how is the experience and speed on remote desktop? I have used GoToMyPC in the past and it is slow and doesn't quite replicate the exact feel of one's own desktop.

team viewer is much, much better than GOTO because with goto you have to goto their servers then the destination, and back to their servers to you.

Team view is useable. I regularly fix computer 1/2 way around the world for ppl who have very slow internet connections and its not like being there but it doesn't make me want to pull my hair out.

Plus its free for non commercial use

Ken

I use remote desktop connection between all my win7 machines at home.

timber said:

I am using Win7 RC and will be moving most of our household PCs to Win7. I'm wondering if there is a way to create the same user ID on multiple machines so that no matter what machine a user logs onto they will see their same desktop and have access to their files, programs, bookmarks, same user rights/restrictions, etc.

This is what roaming profiles are designed for.

However, You need to have a Windows Server based computer, which is pretty expensive for home use (though there are ways to get it cheaply if that's what you want to do).

Also, Roaming profiles have their own issues. If people put large files on their desktop then it can take a significant amount of time to login. You also have to configure all users to use a shared home directory over the network, which again, for large files can be fairly slow.

Remote desktop works pretty well on a local network, and with Windows 7, they have even enhanced it to support 3D.

Hi there

I can't understand it either -- If I'm out in the garden / conservatory with a nice glass of scotch / beer and I need a file from a computer located 3 flights of stairs above or run an application such as connect to another vpn why shouldn't I just be able to connect and do it, or I might want to connect to a work email from a home computer and need to connect to their email server which only allows connections from specific designated remote machines.

Home networking is NOT a luxury these days -- pretty well every household in most developed countries have more than one computer and a home network is pretty common.

A decent alternative to RDP that does work on Home Premium is to use (free) Tightvnc. This might solve your needs -- you will need to set up the server on the machine you want to connect to of course.

It should have most of the stuff that you would do with RDP.

Remote Desktop Connectivity Using TightVNC : SSL Explorer Community Edition A DIY SSL VPN with SSL-Explorer - Part 2

Here's another link where you can use vnc as "bog standard" rdp -- OK it connects vista and xp but the principle is identical for W7 home premium

http://www.petri.co.il/remote_window..._using_vnc.htm

Cheers
jimbo

I can't understand either why MS makes this so hard. Not sure how it is on the OS-X and Linux side of things, but as mentioned by Jimbo, pretty much everyone has a home network. Why can't the machines just talk to each other and trade user profiles in a simple, easy to understand way.

Thanks for all the above info. I will check it out.

Couldn't I also somehow use Win7 "HomeGroups"? I don't think it wouldn't allow a user to have their normal "desktop" show up on any machine, but at least it would allow access to the files. Of course the other machine would have to be "on". Or maybe I could use something like SyncToy to maintain file syncing between each machine and a single, always on PC.