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GPO Folder Redirection Failing after moving FileServers

ISSUE
====

GPO folder redirection not working.

Domain: Windows 2003
Clients: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7

ERROR
=====

On the client machines:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Folder Redirection
Date:
Event ID:      502
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:
Computer:
Description:
Failed to apply policy and redirect folder “Documents” to “NEW SERVERUsersMyDocUSER NAME>My Documents”.
Redirection options=80009211.
The following error occurred: “Failed to build the list of regular subfolders under “OLD SERVERUsersMyDocMy Documents””.
Error details: “Logon Failure: The target account name is incorrect.
“.

And

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-Folder Redirection
Date:
Event ID:      510
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:
Computer:

Description:
Folder redirection policy application has been delayed until the next logon because the group policy logon optimization is in effect.

On the Server:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Folder Redirection
Event Category: None
Event ID: 103
Date:
Time: 16:46:17
User: N/A
Computer:
Description:
Failed to perform redirection of folder . The fully expanded paths for the folder could not be determined. The following error occurred:
The system could not find the environment option that was entered.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

ISSUE
====

One of the main reasons for the group policy folder redirection failing is  due to the existing folder redirection. What appears to happen is that the system determines if the users folder redirection was already enabled, if the folder was already being redirect it will access the old share and then migrate all of the data to the new share, in this example the file server no longer existed.

SOLUTION
========

Create a new group policy, for example called “Apply Folder Redirect Reg”

Link the GPO to the relevant OU’s, where folder redirection is failing

with in the ou create a new logon script (under the user container)

create a batch file in the following location DOMAIN CONTROLLERNETLOGONPolicy_Reg.bat

batch file to contain the following


REG ADD "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders" /v Personal /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "NEW SERVERUsersMyDoc%USERNAME%My documents" /f


REG ADD "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Folders" /v Personal /t REG_SZ /d "NEW SERVERUsersMyDoc%USERNAME%My documents" /f

REG ADD "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders" /v "My Pictures" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d NEW SERVERUsersMyDoc%username%My documentsMy Pictures" /f

REG ADD "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Folders" /v "My Pictures" /t REG_SZ /d "NEW SERVERUsersMyDoc%username%My documentsMy Pictures" /f

REG ADD "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders" /v "My Video" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "NEW SERVERUsersMyDoc%username%My documentsMy Video" /f

REG ADD "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Folders" /v "My Video" /t REG_SZ /d "NEW SERVERUsersMyDoc%username%My documentsMy Video" /f

REG ADD "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders" /v "My Music" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "NEW SERVERUsersMyDoc%username%My documentsMy Music" /f

REG ADD "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Folders" /v "My Video" /t REG_SZ /d "NEW SERVERUsersMyDoc%username%My documentsMy Music" /f

Under AD Site and Service replicate settings to all servers.
Run Gpupdate /force on the DC where the GPO was created
Get your users to log off and then log back in again.

Unlink the GPO once you know all users have been updated

2 thoughts on “GPO Folder Redirection Failing after moving FileServers

  1. Thanks for sharing Luke! I had RDP Roaming Profiles enabled plus used a policy to redirect User Folders to a different share on a remote server. REmoving the Attribute “Move Data to new location” in the FOlder Redirection Properties of each folder did the trick for me.

  2. Do you have the right settings for windows 7 users?
    What did you mean by “Under AD Site and Service replicate settings to all servers.”?

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