User Migration tool ?

[coffee]

What is your favorite tool to migrate a user to another computer on a domain?

I have a client that is moving from a laptop to a desktop computer and it connects to a domain / SBS server. Would be nice to have a tool to make this a lot easier. It will actually be my first migration attempt and would appreciate any hints also.

Server runs Exchange and AD.

Coffee

 

[ccritchie]

What is your favorite tool to migrate a user to another computer on a domain?

I have a client that is moving from a laptop to a desktop computer and it connects to a domain / SBS server. Would be nice to have a tool to make this a lot easier. It will actually be my first migration attempt and would appreciate any hints also.

Server runs Exchange and AD.

Coffee

FABS autobackup. It will catch all of the critical stuff in the user's profile.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Just do folder redirection......on a domain it's much less complicated than a local user, since the user data sits on the server in a domain. If folder redirection isn't setup, I'll just log into the new computer as that user, and then copy over the \username\desktop and \username\documtns and etc folders from the old computer.
Since it's SBS, you have Outlook to Exchange...nothing in the local profile to worry about saving.
And printers are deployed from the server.
It's really simple, you can do it by hand in less time it takes to install some 3rd party tool to migrate stuff you just easily have at your fingertips anyways.

 

[coffee]

FABS autobackup. It will catch all of the critical stuff in the user's profile.

OH, I didnt realize that FABs did Domains but thats because I have never used it that way on domains. I did find this also. I dont know if anyone has ever used it though.

http://usmtgui.ehler.dk/

 

[coffee]

Thank you. I am going to have to go back to a site today and migrate the user to a new computer. Hopefully it runs well. Darn it. I kinda screwed up the planing on this call. I have to drive 1.5 hours back there to hook up old laptop, migrate and then hook up new desktop.

I hate screwing up.

coffee

 

[coffee]

One last question please,

The new computer that I am migrating the user too - Iam planing on naming the computer the same name as the old one but how do I transfer the credentials for it to connect to AD ect..? Will Fabs take care of this or is Fabs pretty much user account stuff only. Im thinking user account only.

I think where I am getting confused is (correct me if Iam wrong) the setup of the users desktop, files ect are stored on the server. Therefore, I have to first name the new computer the same as the old one and transfer the credentials for it? Am I way off base here? How might I do that?

The server runs exchange and AD basically with some shares.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Don't name the new computer the same. Just don't.

 

[coffee]

Don't name the new computer the same. Just don't.

Cool. I didnt. I have another name. I did get it to connect to server with the username/password for the domain. I have access to the server and new computer via TV.

Now I just have to figure out redirection or the best way to restore the users profile/programs/settings ect.. As @YeOldeStonecat was nice enough to point me towards redirection. Right now I do not have access to the old laptop. Its sitting in the users office unhooked / shutdown.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Redirection is better and permanent and should be done for all of the users. That way anyone can sit down in front of any PC and have all their stuff.

 

[coffee]

Redirection is better and permanent and should be done for all of the users. That way anyone can sit down in front of any PC and have all their stuff.

Im sure your busy with all your calls . Can you point me towards some documentation on how to redirect possibly this one persons account?

 

[nlinecomputers]

https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/83883-configure-user-home-folders-and-folder-redirection

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Which version of SBS? They have built in, already setup, GPOs for this. Just have to turn it on.
Another question....what "stuff" do you wish to get from the old profile? A lot of stuff can be done quickly and easily from the server which both rigs are up and running. You can copy from old rig, while remoted into the server, just go \\oldcomputer\users\username\ grab the folders you need, and copy them to the same path on \\newcomputer\users\username\blah blah blah. I use that a lot if folder redirections isn't on, or..you want to get additional things that are not done by folder redirection.

Another method you can use, "roaming profiles". On old rig, convert profile to a roaming profile. Next...setup the new PC. However...do note that it's best to have both computers be quite similar, matching versions of Office, etc.