user profile structure

[Floyd]

Settings are already stored in the ntuser.dat file.

that is for your desktop and various NT specific settings. non-microsoft programs don't store their settings there.

[ThePhysicist]

Settings are already stored in the ntuser.dat file.

that is for your desktop and various NT specific settings. non-microsoft programs don't store their settings there.

ntuser.dat is the complete HKCU registry hive and includes HKCU\Software\...
A lot of (almost all) non-ms programs store information there, although MS encourages devs not to use the registry.

[Floyd]

Settings are already stored in the ntuser.dat file.

that is for your desktop and various NT specific settings. non-microsoft programs don't store their settings there.

ntuser.dat is the complete HKCU registry hive and includes HKCU\Software\...
A lot of (almost all) non-ms programs store information there, although MS encourages devs not to use the registry.

as far as i know, firefox, thunderbird and GIMP don't store anything save for some installation specific stuff.

[Phalanx]

that is for your desktop and various NT specific settings. non-microsoft programs don't store their settings there.

ntuser.dat is the complete HKCU registry hive and includes HKCU\Software\...
A lot of (almost all) non-ms programs store information there, although MS encourages devs not to use the registry.

as far as i know, firefox, thunderbird and GIMP don't store anything save for some installation specific stuff.

yes, of course. The installation stuff there lets programs find where the Mozilla programs are, and the info.

The actually data for the program is stored where it can easily be transferred, and does not fill up the registry with data which should not be loaded every time you start windows. Plus it suits the program a lot more.

[Matthias]

although MS encourages devs not to use the registry.

Where does it say that?

[Floyd]

The actually data for the program is stored where it can easily be transferred, and does not fill up the registry with data which should not be loaded every time you start windows. Plus it suits the program a lot more.

but that's going away from the original point. the folder structure is daft and we have a chance to change it and wouldn't break the programs themselves. we should make it more logical so that people can back up data more easily since we have that opportunity.

[Phalanx]

The actually data for the program is stored where it can easily be transferred, and does not fill up the registry with data which should not be loaded every time you start windows. Plus it suits the program a lot more.

but that's going away from the original point. the folder structure is daft and we have a chance to change it and wouldn't break the programs themselves. we should make it more logical so that people can back up data more easily since we have that opportunity.

That would go back to the problem of programs storing data locally that should not be accessed by other users or passed over the network to the server. It is rather self explained I believe in the name. Local is stuff that stays local, change that and you will get headaches.

[Floyd]

That would go back to the problem of programs storing data locally that should not be accessed by other users or passed over the network to the server. It is rather self explained I believe in the name. Local is stuff that stays local, change that and you will get headaches.

how is naming and structuring folders more logically giving them access across the network? besides, for a profile to be roaming, it needs to be copied to a central server anyway.

[MadRat]

Some people have obviously never seen the giant ntuser.dat files generated by users that rely on roaming profiles. I've seen them grow into the hundred megabyte range. Add on the folders for internet, desktop, and My Documents and people often grow their personal profile well into the gig range.

People really need to learn that desktops are not for all of their downloaded files.

[Floyd]

Some people have obviously never seen the giant ntuser.dat files generated by users that rely on roaming profiles. I've seen them grow into the hundred megabyte range. Add on the folders for internet, desktop, and My Documents and people often grow their personal profile well into the gig range.

People really need to learn that desktops are not for all of their downloaded files.

As have I, I'm not suggesting people store massive files in their profiles. I am suggesting we logically structure and name folders in the profile so that it's easier to find, backup and restore data.