What is a "profile"?

A Windows User Profile contains default desktop settings and any changes that the user chooses to make to those settings. Changes might include wallpaper, colors, desktop shortcuts, Thunderbird and other application settings, and user-selected printers.

At present, user profiles are stored separately from user files which makes users less susceptible to inadvertent damage to their profiles, yet there are still numerous ways that users can can get into trouble. 

Technically, a user has 2 profiles:

• Roaming profile – stored in the user's "\\khensu\Profile[nn]\username\Windows Profile" and "\\khensu\Profile[nn]\username\Application Data" directories, available at any MCECS Windows computer where the user can log onto the network.
• Local profile – a copy of the user's roaming profile, created on the C: drive when the user logs onto the network.

Desktop changes are first saved to the local profile. When the user logs off the network, the local profile overwrites the roaming profile. This makes it possible for those changes to be available at other Windows systems on the network.

How can you "lose" or damage your profile?

Consider these situations:

1. Abnormal log off – the system is shut down before logging off normally
2. User's profile exceeds the profile disk quota  – local profile can't be saved back to the network because there isn't enough disk space available.
3. User's profile is corrupted or otherwise unavailable – upon logon, the roaming profile cannot be loaded.

In #1 & #2 above, the local profile is never copied back to the network, causing the local profile on that box to be newer than the roaming profile. The next time the user logs onto that box, the user will get a message that says:

         "Your local profile is newer than your roaming profile.
         Do you want to replace it with the newer file?"

         Answer "NO" to re-instate your roaming profile.
         Answer "YES" if you want to keep the local profile.

Restoring a lost profile is sometimes possible. It involves finding one of the previously over-written roaming profiles. Unfortunately, users can't do this for themselves. You'd have to be logged in to find one of the older files, and when you log out, the local profile will over-write the one you just restored.

Send e-mail to support ( support@cat.pdx.edu ) to request the restoration of a profile.

What do you lose if you lose your profile?

The following list is not exhaustive, but most of the major items you'd lose are:

• desktop settings (user-defined shortcuts, colors, background, etc)
• printer definitions
• user-defined drive mappings
• your Internet Explorer Favorites
• if you are an MS-Outlook or Outlook Express user and have not moved your Outlook folder file from its default location, you will lose your e-mail, address book, and calendar

What are "cookies" and how do they affect my profile?

Cookies are small files that are used by Internet Explorer to keep track of information for websites. When a lot of cookies are stored in your profile, you may be driven over profile quota. An example of a type of cookie, is when you click "Remember me" on a website that requires a login. Clicking that checkbox creates a cookie that stores your username and password in your user profile. While this is not the only type of cookie in existance, it is important to understand that they do exist.

How can one clean out cookies? The easiest way is to open up Internet Explorer and go to Tools->Internet Options and under Browsing Options click the "Delete..." button. Then, click "Delete cookies..." and click "Yes". This will then delete your cookies. Keep in mind that if you had saved any website login information, this will delete that information and you will have to log into your websites again.

If this fails to clean your cookies, then please email us or come to our front desk and ask for help. We will be more than happy to help you clean your cookies.

Firefox

As of Mozilla Firefox 3.x, there is a new method that is used to store bookmarks, browser history and other saved data. A "database" file is used to store this information. This database file can tend to get rather large and use up a lot of profile space. There's a fairly simple fix to this problem, however.

First, back up your bookmarks, unless you don't mind losing them. To do this, click Bookmarks->Organize Bookmarks...->Import and Export. Pick a file name and save it somewhere safe. Now, navigate to:

\\khensu\Profile[nn]\username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\something.default\

In this folder, delete the places.sqlite file and the urlclassifier2.sqlite. Now you've freed up more space in your profile. You can reimport your bookmarks from the same dialog as explained earlier.

How do I delete/reset my profile?

Come to one of the Cat Support Pods and they can reset your profile for you.

Understanding Disk and Quota Usage

  Disk and Profile Quota