Moving out from the Workgroup profile to Domain profile
I am in the process of migrating the workgroup model to domain model. We hold Win2008R2SP1 Active directory and the client computers are about 5,000 in combination of XP and 7.
Presently they created user in the workgroup model client pc and they own the admin privilege on that pc. They use windows mail and outlook express with pop3 protocl to view email.
We are in the phase of migrating these pc's to the client for the domain. Hence we have created the same user name in AD and asked them to login. But they are missing their previous workgroup desktop folders and settings.
Thought to copy the content from the Workgroup user profile to the domain profile by logging into local administrator of the PC and then it started to work.
The challege we face they are about 5,000 users who are located in different branch office. Most of the users don't have patience to do the above solution and also this solution cannot be done by the IT admin these many users.

Is there any easy way that end users can to do it out and make the rollout faster...
I have already gone through USMT tool but this cannot be educated for the end users easily..(
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usmt is only to migrate the profile. you have to chack to be sure they don't use share to save their file. thus you will need to cut the access to redirect it to a file server.


in the short run, if you plan to install an exchange that change the way to do the migration too. as they will need to import the data too to their new mailbox.

they are no easy solution for your migration. my best advice is to go onsite for each location, and scan how they use their computer, and go from there with a plan.
if you try to migrate everyone at once you will need a lot of field ressourceMCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

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There are about 300 location in which it is not possible to go for each location.....I know that it was not an easy solution on migration that's why ...i seeking solution and support on how to go forward from this forum.:) :)....
I belive there should be a way inwhich MS has seen this type case before and should have made it easier..
Need suggestion only on migration of user profile ...migration of mailbox i can take care..no issue on that..Exchange Queries

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On my side I don't know any tips for such a big migration.
You could make a default password for their user login, and make appointement to each user to migrate them.
A remote helpdesk user can easilly migrate from there, we did it a lot of time where I work.

Else you need to make a todo list that you give to everyone.. usmt is straighforward. Copying the favorite, desktop, etc.. by hand is harder than usmt for an end user IMO
Maybe some other third part program might be able to do it


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Thank you for reply...but makes me funny to get appointment for all 5,000 users..:)...Exchange Queries

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for 5000 users, i just hope for you that you got a strong it staff behind you. a profile migratation take about 2hr if eveything go ok.

5000 x 2 = 10k hours. 1 guy could do it in 250 weeks if i calculate 40hr by week, 2 in 125.5 weeks, etc..MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

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Lets get back serious. Whats your design ? You never intend to go on those 300 locations to put a local DC ? What your WAN link worth of your main site ? Does your remote user use only TS session to their application ? Thus would be able to live without
behing migrated right away, etc...

There is a lot o question pendingMCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

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Appreciate your help...The end users are non-it person.They don't have domain concept earlier. We have migrated from workgroup model to domain model in centralised model. All are connected with good bandwidth..
Access the PC remotely is much restricted due to some security reason. So we are unable to take RDP on it. Also it is need to complete within 4 months which was given by management or else it leads to penalty..:(


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I found a small tool on google, like
there
It could help, but my main concern would be that in workgroup you have nothing that go in your vpn. It's all netbios broadcast lcoally and such.

When you will join all those machine, after a lot of kerberos, rpc traffic will start to flow. RPC by default need a lot of port, if you can't RDP, RPC is surelly already blocked.
Like if all those office are using small router, they are surelly on the 192.168.x.x subnet. Migrating all those office would need to remake all the adressing as they need to be unique in the VPN tunnel endpoint, and a router that support 300 office VPN
tunnel......




MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

There is an amazing pack of free network admin tools. click here to download it

I already seen this tool...but they will not purchase since it non-ms product..:(
We have written firewall rules in our router to allow the same...so traffic is not an issue..Exchange Queries

There is an amazing pack of free network admin tools. click here to download it