Microsoft KB Archive/929831

= A description of known issues with the FolderLocation settings in the Windows Vista Unattend.xml file =

Article ID: 929831

Article Last Modified on 11/14/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Home Basic
 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Starter

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INTRODUCTION
You can use the FolderLocations settings in the &quot;Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup&quot; area of the Windows Vista Unattend.xml file to move the user profiles folder or the program data folder to a non-default target location. The user profiles folder is typically %systemdrive%\Users. The program data folder is typically %systemdrive%\ProgramData.

This article describes known issues with the FolderLocations settings in the Unattend.xml file.



MORE INFORMATION
The target location for the user profiles and program data folders can be on a volume other than the system drive as long as the volume meets the following requirements:
 * It must be an NTFS file system volume.
 * It must not be the path of another operating system user profile folder or program data folder.
 * It must not contain any serviceable components.

These unattend settings have the following known issues:
 * If you use the FolderLocations unattend settings to move user data or program data to a location other than the %systemdrive% folder, you block upgrades to other versions of Windows Vista or to later releases of Microsoft Windows.
 * If you use the System Preparation Tool (Sysprep) to apply the FolderLocations unattend settings, some system directory junctions do not point to the new target location. The following system directory junctions continue to point to the old locations:
 * C:\Documents and Settings continues to point to C:\Users.
 * C:\ProgramData\Desktop continues to point to C:\Users\Public\Desktop.
 * C:\ProgramData\Documents continues to point to C:\Users\Public\Documents.
 * C:\ProgramData\Favorites continues to point to C:\Users\Public\Favorites.
 * If you use the Windows Vista Setup program to apply the FolderLocations unattend settings, the system directory junctions do not point to the new target location. The following system directory junctions continue to point to the old locations:
 * C:\Documents and Settings continues to point to C:\Users.
 * C:\Users\Default User continues to point to C:\Users\Default.
 * C:\Users\All Users continues to point to C:\ProgramData.
 * If you use the System Preparation Tool to apply the ProfilesDirectory unattend settings, the user profiles of domain users who have previously logged on to the computer are left in the old location. The public profile is also left in the old location.
 * When you use Pkgmgr.exe to service an offline image where the user profiles have been moved to a different drive by using the Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup | FolderLocations | ProfilesDirectory answer file entry, you may receive a 0x2 return code.

The target location for the user profiles and program data folders can be on a volume other than the system drive as long as the volume meets the following requirements:
 * It must be an NTFS file system volume.
 * It must not be the path of another operating system user profile folder or program data folder.
 * It must not contain any serviceable components.

These unattend settings have the following known issues:
 * If you use the FolderLocations unattend settings to move user data to a location other than the %systemdrive% volume some servicing components may not install including but not limited to Critical Updates, Security Updates, Hotfixes and Service Packs.
 * If you use the FolderLocations unattend settings to move user data or program data to a location other than the %systemdrive% folder, you block upgrades to other versions of Windows Vista or to later releases of Microsoft Windows.
 * If you use the System Preparation Tool (Sysprep) to apply the FolderLocations unattend settings, some system directory junctions do not point to the new target location.

The following system directory junctions continue to point to the old locations:
 * C:\Documents and Settings continues to point to C:\Users.
 * C:\ProgramData\Desktop continues to point to C:\Users\Public\Desktop.
 * C:\ProgramData\Documents continues to point to C:\Users\Public\Documents.
 * C:\ProgramData\Favorites continues to point to C:\Users\Public\Favorites.
 * If you use the Windows Vista Setup program to apply the FolderLocations unattend settings, the system directory junctions do not point to the new target location.

The following system directory junctions continue to point to the old locations:
 * C:\Documents and Settings continues to point to C:\Users.
 * C:\Users\Default User continues to point to C:\Users\Default.
 * C:\Users\All Users continues to point to C:\ProgramData.
 * If you use the System Preparation Tool to apply the ProfilesDirectory unattend settings, the user profiles of domain users who have previously logged on to the computer are left in the old location. The public profile is also left in the old location.

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