User profiles consist of a Registry hive that incorporates the data typically found in NTuser.dat, saved as a file that is mapped to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry node. It also includes a set of profile folders. Table 20 describes the various user profile types available in Windows XP.
Table 20. Profile Types
Profile
Created For
How It Works
Roaming
Users who log on to different computers on the network
Stored on a server. When a user logs on to a network computer, the profile is copied locally to the computer. When the user logs off the network, any changes to the profile are copied back up to the server.
Mandatory
Administrative enforcement of settings A user account that is shared by two or more users
Stored on a server. When a user logs on to a network computer, the profile is copied locally to the computer. No changes are ever saved when the user logs off the server. Only the administrator can make changes to the profile.
Local
Every user at first logon
When the user logs on to a computer, whether or not it is connected to the network, a local profile is created and saved in the local Documents and Settings folder for that user. All changes are saved when the user logs off.
Temporary
Users who were unable to load their profiles
When there is an error condition that prevents a user from loading his or her normal profile, a temporary profile is loaded. When the user logs off, all changes are deleted.
All Users Files and Folders
All users who log on to the computer
When a user logs on to the computer, the All Users files and folders contents, which include desktop and start Menu items, are combined with the individual's profile.
Default User
Users who log on for the first time
When a user logs on for the first time, the default profile is used as a template to create a new profile for the user.
Each user account has a Profile tab in its Properties sheet where you can specify a network location to use as a roaming profile.
You must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on both the old PC to gather the settings, and the new PC to migrate and apply them.
The 70-270 exam will not test you on your knowledge of the Classic View of Control Panel or any desktop settings, except in the cases where you are tested on how to change to the Classic View or back to Category View.
A mandatory profile is a roaming profile that can't be changed by the user. To create a mandatory profile, you create a roaming profile and rename the NTuser.dat file to NTuser.man.
Support for multiple languages is configured in the Keyboards and Regional Settings applet in the Control Panel. Know the process of changing the keyboard layout from the Languages tab of this utility.
Windows Installer uses .msi packages and depends upon the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.
Msiexec.exe is the Windows Installer component that can be used to repair or interpret an .msi file.
Know how packages can be published or assigned:
Publish a package to users Users can install the application through the Add/Remove Programs applet in Control Panel or when opening an associated file extension.
Assign a package to users Offers the application in the Start menu of any computer to which the user logs on.
Assign a package to computer The application is installed automatically upon startup.
