User Profiles - Create and Move During Windows 7 Installation

So how does all of this work for Windows 2008 R2? They are basically the same underneath, so I was hoping to move the Users and ProgramData folders onto the D: Drive like my personal PC.

Any chance this works for the server editions? What do we put in the XML file since you only mention the Windows 7 variants...

Hey guys. Like some others, I have followed the tutorial to the letter each time, and each time I do it, sysprep makes a show of working, then I log on for the first time, and ... nothing. Nothing has been moved. I have an SSD and followed all of the steps. I've probably done this procedure now about 11 times. HOWEVER..... after reading through pages of this thread, I may know what the deal is, and i'd like to know if this is the possible culprit:

1. In order to perform each clean install of Seven, I have been using my System Reinstallation DVD provided by IBUYPOWER. This is a recovery DVD.... So, am I to understand that the reason (possibly) everything appears to work, but then nothing has moved, is probably because i'm not using an actual windows 7 installation dvd that contains the Install.wim file?

2. If that is not the problem, what could it be?

Thanks guys.

Britton30: Yes, thats what I meant by following the steps to the letter as well as mentioning the SSD part. Whatever is going wrong, I am more than positive that it isn't with a step missed or left out.

As previously stated, I never receive an error message. Sysprep runs, the pc reboots, and nothing has moved.

But what about my question? Do you think it is because I use an OEM Recovery cd/re-installation cd and not a windows 7 installation cd? I read somewhere on here that it had to be the actual install cd with a file called "Install.wim". So, do you think that me using a recovery cd and not instal cd is what is causing nothing to happen?

Thanks for the quick reply bth.

Kari: I am very sorry for your loss....



As for the other stuff:

I know I wrote it as if I considered the second audit reboot to be my first login, but of course, it is not. Here is what I do: I send the system to audit mode at the very first loging screen. While there, I set the sysprep to run the code. I run the code. The PC reboots, again, in audit mode. I then click ok for the PC to reboot in OOBE. The PC does, and then prepares first time setup, video settings, etc. Then, once i'm logged in for the first time, I check and nothing has moved.

I can't stress to you guys enough that I promise you I have not missed a step in your tutorial, nor have I incorrectly installed on the SSD with the HDD attached... I've spent about 8 hours doing this over and over and reading the posts following the tutorial and seeing people's mistakes. I can assure you that, if you posted it, I did it...

Now, please, tell me if this is possibly the problem:::::::::::::: "Do you think it is because I use an OEM Recovery cd/re-installation cd and not a windows 7 installation cd? I read somewhere on here that it had to be the actual install cd with a file called "Install.wim". So, do you think that me using a recovery cd and not instal cd is what is causing nothing to happen?"

@Britton30: Are you sure? around page 24 there seems to be some discussion as to whether or not an OEM cd would work and it seems like Kari suggested that it would not... I just really want this to work. I mean, I know how to move the user/myname profile to my HDD... but this method is so much better as it transfers both User profiles AND ProgramData...