Customized User Profile Settings Not Applying

[Cal Poly EE IT]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to create a default user profile for all users logging onto our lab machines. This means fixing the task bar and start bar. I've tested all methods mentioned on the forums such as the ones supplied by SmartDeploy officials. Creating a LayoutModification.xml file works; however, it only works when testing new local users on my VM. After deploying the image to another computer and signing in with a domain account, all changes go down the drain.

I've even tried some other options like Defprof but had corrupted defaults after doing so which led me away from this option. My predecessor claims to have used CopyProfile but of course that is deprecated. 

Any help would be appreciated! We are trying to create images with Windows 1809.

Thanks in advance.

[Jeff Harris]

We have a video where I demonstrate how to customize the Start Menu and Task Bar here: https://support.smartdeploy.com/kb/article/3-customizing-the-start-menu-and-task-bar/

This should persist through deployments, as it's the method we use on our employee workstations as well.

[Cal Poly EE IT]

Hi Jeff,

I've followed the steps exactly as mentioned on that page and video. But like I said, the LayoutModification.xml method only works on local accounts created on my VM. Once the VM is deployed onto a test station and joined to our domain, domain accounts do not receive the modified default profile settings. This means that our students are affected as they sign into lab computers with domain accounts. 

 

I believe that it may be necessary for us to use CopyProfile as that is what worked well for us in the past and what my predecessor used.

I would like to know how and at which point should CopyProfile be enabled/used in conjunction with SmartDeploy? Is there a specific location in the Answer File we need to enable CopyProfile? Is this process going to be executed when SmartDeploy runs Sysprep on the destination computer? Are we supposed to run Sysprep manually before imaging? 

 

For sanity's sake, I have attached both my predecessor's answer file and the answer file I am using (with sensitive information blocked out). I have diff'ed our files and besides the minor preference differences, nothing sticks out to be wrong. Is it possible something has changed in recent versions of SmartDeploy that makes my answer file incorrect?

 

Otherwise, any insight to the standard way of using CopyProfile would be very appreciated. If there is an alternative option that works with domain accounts I would be open to trying it as well. Thank you in advance.

current.xml predecessor.xml

[EnviroIT]

I wanted to pop this post back up to see if Cal Poly EE IT made any progress on this as its still an issue. Local profile customizations work perfectly when making new local profiles, but once the domain comes into play nothing seems to utilize the default profile settings. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Aaron@Shared]

EnviroIT,

I do not believe this can be done thru SD. I personally do not handle Group Policy in my org, but this cannot be done as suggested in the guide by Jeff (sorry Jeff). But this will help you get it working:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/customize-windows-10-start-screens-by-using-group-policy#:~:text=In Windows 10 Pro%2C Enterprise,file that contains the layout.