Description of Windows 2000 User Account and Profile Migration (232970)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q232970

SUMMARY

When you upgrade your Microsoft Windows 95-based or Microsoft Windows 98-based computer to Windows 2000, user accounts and their associated settings must be migrated to Windows 2000. This article provides some examples that demonstrate what accounts or settings may or may not migrate.

MORE INFORMATION

All user accounts and non-roaming profiles are migrated during the upgrade process. The following list provides examples of what actions Setup performs in specific situations during the migration process:

Default User Account Not Used Previously

If the default user account was not used previously in your Windows 95-based or Windows 98-based computer, Setup does not migrate the Windows 98/95 default user settings to your Windows 2000-based computer.

The Installer Pressed ESC When First Prompted to Log On to Windows 98/95

If the installer pressed ESC when first prompted to log on to Windows 98/95, this may imply that all users of this computer share registry and profile settings. During the migration process, the Windows 98/95 default configuration is migrated to the Windows 2000 administrator account and default user.

User Logs on to Windows 98/95-Based Computer by Pressing ESC, Not All Users Share Registry and Profile Settings

The default user settings are migrated to the default user settings your on Windows 2000-based computer.

User Logs on to Windows 98/95-Based Computer as Member of a Domain and Shares Settings

  • Shares common registry settings to the default registry for Microsoft network client accounts on the Windows 2000-based computer.
  • Migrates the %Windows%\Start Menu profile from Windows 98/95 to All Users\Start menu.
  • Migrates the %Windows%\Desktop profile from Windows 98/95 to All Users\Desktop.

User Logs on to Windows 98/95 as a Member of a Domain and Does Not Share Settings

For users that have kept different preferences and desktop settings, their settings are migrated to the Windows 2000 profile for their user account.

NOTE: This requires that a machine account be created before or during the upgrade process so that the computer can join the domain. If during the upgrade, Windows 2000 is unable to join the domain, a local user account is created and the profile is copied to the newly created account.

User Logs on to a Workgroup or Clients of a Non-Microsoft-Based Network and Shares Settings

  • Shares common registry settings to the equivalent local account's registries on the Windows 2000-based computer.
  • Migrates the %Windows%\Start Menu profile from Windows 98/95 to All Users\Start Menu on the Windows 2000-based computer.
  • Migrates the %Windows%\Desktop profile from Windows 98/95 to All Users\Desktop on the Windows 2000-based computer.

User Logs on to a Workgroup or Clients of a Non-Microsoft-Based Network and Does Not Share Settings

For users that have kept different preferences and desktop settings, their settings are migrated to the Windows 2000 profile for their user account.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/5/2003
Keywords:kbinfo kbnetwork KB232970
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