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A tool to migrate from local to AD? RRS feed

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    Hi,

    I know the ADMT tool helps with migrating from network accounts to AD, but has anyone seen a tool that would help migrate local user accounts into an AD?

    Large organizatons will start and end with corporate PCs, but small organizations may bring in people and computers in a piecemeal fashion.  If a person has a computer, and has built up a wealth of documents, application data and settings, wouldn't it help to have a tool to ease the process of bringing them into the fold?  Adding the computer to the AD is simple enough, and doesn't stop the user from using it as they have right along.  But, it's not as easy to take the data and preferences of a user of a local account and set them up as a domain user.  Of course there will need to be adjustments (as UPN joe@________, may well be already taken, not to mention out of bounds with corporate policy).  Still, a to way ease the transition, letting the user work and access their data and applications as they have right along, would save a lot of wasted effort and time.

    A tool that could do what ADMT does for migrating from network accounts to AD, for migrating local user accounts to AD, is what I'm looking for; anyone know of one?

    BRN..
    Wednesday, February 27, 2008 5:31 AM

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    Hi,

     

    "anyone seen a tool that would help migrate local user accounts into an AD?"

     

    Based on my research, so far Microsoft hasn't provided such a tool to help you migrate local user account to AD.

     

    However, as a feasible workaround, we can firstly use "Dcpromo" to promote the local computer to the first DC of a new domain. Accordingly, the local users will become domain users of that new domain. Then, migrate these user accounts from that domain to the target domain with ADMT tool.

     

    Please check the method in your test environment to see if it meets your requirements.

     

    I hope this helps.

     

    Tuesday, March 4, 2008 11:04 AM
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    The only Microsoft product that has a tool like this is Windows Small Business Server 2003.  Windows Small Business Server allows you to migrate a local user profile on a workstation to a new AD profile after using it's "ConnectComputer" wizard to join the workstation to AD.

     

    There is a manual way to do this as well though. 

    1. Just join the new domain
    2. Log on as the destination user (the AD users)
    3. Then log back out (sometimes you have to restart the computer).
    4. Next you will need to log in as a local administrator, usually this would be COMPUTERNAME\Administrator.
    5. Now go to to System settings
    6. Then Advanced
    7. Profiles
    8. Then click on the source proile (the local user) and press the "copy to..." button
    9. Then direct it towards the new AD profile and press OK
    10. This next part will just take some time to copy the source profile to the destination profile
    11. After the copy is done (no progress indicator unfortunately, just be patient) just log out and then log back in as the AD user
    12. If everything worked well you can delete the local user now

    Some considerations:

    1. You can save a lot of time if you cut and paste out the users My Documents folder prior to doing this "copy to...".  For example, temporarily paste the My Documents folder to the root of C:, and then just manually paste it back into the destination profile after "copy to..." completes.
    2. You will need enough disk space to duplicate the size of the profile and generally even a little bit more to account for Virtual Memory.  If you are running low on disk space or are dealing with a huge profile definitely adhere to consideration #1.
    3. Some profiles just seem to be damaged... I have had a couple cases (out of hundreds) where this just hasn't worked.  As a result, you'll have to manually move over user files and required Local Settings and Application Data.

    Yes, I agree with you that MS should have a tool for automating this process since I deal with tons of small/medium businesses as a consultant that don't have a proper/working AD environment when I arrive.  I frequently am moving 50-60 local user accounts to AD accounts and it is extremely time consuming.

     

    I  hope this helps.

    Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:42 AM

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    Hi,

     

    "anyone seen a tool that would help migrate local user accounts into an AD?"

     

    Based on my research, so far Microsoft hasn't provided such a tool to help you migrate local user account to AD.

     

    However, as a feasible workaround, we can firstly use "Dcpromo" to promote the local computer to the first DC of a new domain. Accordingly, the local users will become domain users of that new domain. Then, migrate these user accounts from that domain to the target domain with ADMT tool.

     

    Please check the method in your test environment to see if it meets your requirements.

     

    I hope this helps.

     

    Tuesday, March 4, 2008 11:04 AM
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    The only Microsoft product that has a tool like this is Windows Small Business Server 2003.  Windows Small Business Server allows you to migrate a local user profile on a workstation to a new AD profile after using it's "ConnectComputer" wizard to join the workstation to AD.

     

    There is a manual way to do this as well though. 

    1. Just join the new domain
    2. Log on as the destination user (the AD users)
    3. Then log back out (sometimes you have to restart the computer).
    4. Next you will need to log in as a local administrator, usually this would be COMPUTERNAME\Administrator.
    5. Now go to to System settings
    6. Then Advanced
    7. Profiles
    8. Then click on the source proile (the local user) and press the "copy to..." button
    9. Then direct it towards the new AD profile and press OK
    10. This next part will just take some time to copy the source profile to the destination profile
    11. After the copy is done (no progress indicator unfortunately, just be patient) just log out and then log back in as the AD user
    12. If everything worked well you can delete the local user now

    Some considerations:

    1. You can save a lot of time if you cut and paste out the users My Documents folder prior to doing this "copy to...".  For example, temporarily paste the My Documents folder to the root of C:, and then just manually paste it back into the destination profile after "copy to..." completes.
    2. You will need enough disk space to duplicate the size of the profile and generally even a little bit more to account for Virtual Memory.  If you are running low on disk space or are dealing with a huge profile definitely adhere to consideration #1.
    3. Some profiles just seem to be damaged... I have had a couple cases (out of hundreds) where this just hasn't worked.  As a result, you'll have to manually move over user files and required Local Settings and Application Data.

    Yes, I agree with you that MS should have a tool for automating this process since I deal with tons of small/medium businesses as a consultant that don't have a proper/working AD environment when I arrive.  I frequently am moving 50-60 local user accounts to AD accounts and it is extremely time consuming.

     

    I  hope this helps.

    Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:42 AM
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    Hi aron,

    Your idea is very good. I have doubt this regards , If we configured the outlook mail in the local system user profile. Is it same move to the migrated AD Account. or we have to configure new?

    Kannan.S
    Monday, August 3, 2009 10:39 AM
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    Based on my research, so far Microsoft hasn't provided such a tool to help you migrate local user account to AD.

    Hi there, I would like to know if there is such a tool by now?

    Best regards

    Sascha

    Monday, August 16, 2010 1:52 PM
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    Hello,

    there is no tool available. The only option is to promote the computer to DC, then local accounts from that computer only will be migrated to domain users.

    Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.
    Monday, August 16, 2010 1:56 PM