User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

Just remember that the OOBE boot after Audit Mode is like first boot ever: you need to name the computer and create first, initial user.

IF you do this AFTER you have installed Windows 7 and created some users, you can't use existing usernames at this point. An example:

You have installed Windows creating a user Fredy. Later you have created three more users Tom, Dick & Harry. User profiles exist on C:\Users and already contain some files and folders.

Now you decide to use sysprep to relocate Users. You enter Audit Mode, run the answer file and exit Audit Mode by booting to Welcome (OOBE) mode. Your computer thinks now it is the very first time it is booted and stops to ask initial username and computer name. At this point however the users Fredy, Tom, Dick and Harry exist in register so Windows does not accept those usernames (duplicate usernames not allowed).

In my test system I for instance already have the user Kari. If I now make an OOBE boot and give initial username Kari, I will get this:



I recommend using username Test at this point, just to get further. When you then finally enter the Welcome screen, you can see your old original users plus the newly created Test:



Login using your old, original username and when in Windows go to Control Panel > Users and delete Test account.

Kari

Hi, I was able to get into audit mode, and partitioned my drive. I saved the script to drive C: but when i command prompt, i can't get it to accept the command. I have a brand new computer and the OS is already on drive C:, so i started from where it asked me to enter user name and computer name. Iam moving the user/program data folders to drive E: as per the script. I pasted the script into drive C: and E: but not sure how to get to root. The script looks like this, <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
<settings pass="oobeSystem">
<component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<FolderLocations>
<ProfilesDirectory>e:\Users</ProfilesDirectory>
<ProgramData>e:\ProgramData</ProgramData>
</FolderLocations>
</component>
</settings>
<cpifflineImage cpi:source="wim:C:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>



In the script where it says wim:C:, thats where is OS is not on DVD/CD. When i try to type in c\Windows\System32\Sysprep, it just takes me back to the prompt C:\Users\Administrator. What am i doing wrong??

The line in answer file that is pointing to install.wim file have to point to location of where you have the Windows installation media, not to where you have installed Windows.

So, this line in your answer file is wrong:

<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:C:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

It is pointing to your Windows on C:, not to install media as it should be. You have to have Windows installation media, either as original Windows 7 installation DVD or Windows 7 ISO file burned to DVD or USB stick, and then edit that line to point to that media. For instance if your Windows is installed on C: and your Windows installation DVD is on G:, that line should be:

<cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:G:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />

Also, do not save the answer file on C:, save it on root of another drive.

Kari

Ok, since my windows media is on drive C: and not on an installation DVD, you are saying to burn the OS from the computer to disk, then have it point to that disk media i.e. my DVD drive is D: so it would be <cpifflineImage cpi:source="wim:D:/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM". is that correct? Also, can i save to root of drive E: which is where the users folders will be, and when you say save to Root, what does that mean exactly.. I previously just opened drive E: and pasted it there!!!! Thanks for the help this is my first time.

No, you can't just copy your Windows from C: to a DVD. You need an official, real Windows 7 installation DVD, or installation ISO file burned to disk or to USB stick.

For explanation of root, see here: Root directory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kari

So the recovery data i can burn to DVD won't do it.??? All i have is the recovery info that was installed on the new computer.

Kari said:

You need an official, real Windows 7 installation DVD, or installation ISO file burned to disk or to USB stick

Here is the link:
Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

THanks MUCH !! I'll give it a shot.