(Seasoned Scripter)

2006-06-05 08:26 PM

Outlook Profile Migration Question

Has anyone come across a tool or written KiX script that helps with the transition from one Exchange server to another by modifying the Exchange server name in the profile?

I will decommission my Exch5.5 server on Wednesday and am looking for a way to check who has a profile on their computer that still doesn't have the new server name.

Thanks!

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-05 10:10 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

It is build like an ini file so readprofilestring should do.
It is in the [service1] section in my case.

Code:


$rc = ReadProfileString("c:\path to the file\outlookprofile.prf", "Service1", "homeserver")
?$rc
sleep 5

Administrator

(KiX Master Guru)

2006-06-05 10:34 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

prf?
is it really a file?
thought outlook stored the data in registry.

Administrator

(KiX Master Guru)

2006-06-05 10:35 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

and starwarskid, why don't you just check the exchange server mailbox logons?
I know, they are usually screwed up but theoretically, you can see has the user signed in since the move.

(Seasoned Scripter)

2006-06-05 10:44 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

This is true, however I have some users that roam from PC to PC and I don't believe they will touch every Outlook profile on every PC before the Exch5.5 server is decommissioned.

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-05 10:46 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

Quote:

prf?
is it really a file?
thought outlook stored the data in registry.

It actually depends on how you configure outlook on the clients. We use a .prf file and one registry setting telling outlook to import the .prf file when it starts-up.

(Seasoned Scripter)

2006-06-05 10:48 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

That's a neat way to control the profile settings without needing to fiddle with the registry. Do you have any links to URLs on how this is done?

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-05 10:53 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question *DELETED*

Post deleted by Mart

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-05 11:09 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

OK. Found the regkey you need to set. I keep forgetting it

Steps to follow:

Create a specific .prf file for your site including stuff like the home server and the user and so on. Environment vars are supported so just one default profile file is enough.
You can now copy the default .prf file to a location specific to that user. Something like c:\documents and settings\username\outlookprofile.prf or something will do.

In the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\[version goes here. 10.0 = office xp, 11.0 is office 2003, etc...]\Outlook\Setup subkey, create a string value called ImportPRF that specifies the name and path of the PRF file. For example, set ImportPRF to \\server1\share\outlook.prf.

A check at logon if the user’s .prf file has the same file time as the one on the server and acting on the outcome will ensure that your users will always have and up to date profile file.

We used to let prfpatch process the new .prf file to resolve all environment vars to the values but that is not really needed. If you really want to be on the safe side then you could included prfpatch.exe.

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-05 11:12 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

We also removed HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\[office version goed here]\Outlook\Setup\First-Run value.

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-05 11:15 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

And a link to MS: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011364251033.aspx
Maybe this link should be added the the FAQ about outlook configuration.

Kent, Les,

How about adding it to: Outlook/Exchange Configuration?

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-14 02:28 AM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

Quote:

Has anyone come across a tool or written KiX script that helps with the transition from one Exchange server to another by modifying the Exchange server name in the profile?

I will decommission my Exch5.5 server on Wednesday and am looking for a way to check who has a profile on their computer that still doesn't have the new server name.

Thanks!

Hey.. You can try the following:
Code:


   $exchgsvr='MAILSVR'     ; Main Exchange Server Location
    IF @INWIN ;Windows NT/2k/XP/2003
       $prfloc='HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles'
    ELSE
       ;Windows 9x
       $prfloc='HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles'
    ENDIF
    ; -- Current User Profile
    $ppru=$prfloc+'\'+@USERID
    ; -- This is used for when you have people come into the company from another Exchange Server into yours
    IF AND READVALUE($ppru+'\13dbb0c8aa05101a9bb000aa002fc45a','001e6602')<>$exchgsvr
       $rc=WriteValue($ppru+'\13dbb0c8aa05101a9bb000aa002fc45a','001e6602',$exchgsvr,'REG_SZ')
       $rc=WriteValue($ppru+'\13dbb0c8aa05101a9bb000aa002fc45a','001e6608',$exchgsvr,'REG_SZ')
    ENDIF

HTH,

Kent

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-14 02:30 AM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

Quote:

And a link to MS: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011364251033.aspx
Maybe this link should be added the the FAQ about outlook configuration.

Kent, Les,

How about adding it to: Outlook/Exchange Configuration?

Done.. Thanks..
Kent

Administrator

(KiX Master)

2006-06-16 12:07 AM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

Well all my Office versions are different. My profile names follow no naming standard. Will the PRF method work okay or will I still need to do some type of customization with KiX?

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-16 10:17 AM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

We used the prf method for Outlook2K, 2K2 (XP) and 2K3. They all worked ok.

Some things like empty the deleted items folder on exit can not be set in the prf but these things can be done by GPO or registry settings. The prf method only creates a profile for the user that is logging on.

Administrator

(KiX Master)

2006-06-16 07:18 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

No the only thing I want to do is change the server name in existing profiles.

Will probably look at some type of recursive KiXtart code to change SERVER1 to SERVER2 in any data found with SERVER1

I have Exchange 5.5 with 99% of all users still on it, but installed Exchange 2003 and will migrate their mailboxes to the new Server, but want to make sure when they logon and start Outlook that it points to the new server. I don't want to change anything else in their profiles and not concerned about new profiles at this time.

(Fresh Scripter)

2006-06-17 02:49 AM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

As long as you are using Outlook 2000 or better when you migrate the mailbox from one server to another the profile will follow with the mailbox. IE: User Jdoe is setup on EXCHANGE1 server and you migrate the Jdoe mailbox to EXCHANGE2 his profile will be smart enough to know that the Mailbox has moved. No need to touch his machine or do anything with scripting.

Administrator

(KiX Master)

2006-06-17 02:57 AM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

Well have not tried that, but that is not what the documents say. In fact one of them says that it can potentially screw up his/her schedule if it points to the wrong server when the user starts to run it without it being changed.

Though I'm sure it should find the new server as you say. Just don't want any issues as one of the MS articles claims.

(KiX Supporter)

2006-06-18 09:18 PM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

If you just need to change the home server in the profile then if you use a prf file for profiles already you can read and write from and to it in the same way as an ini file.

Administrator

(KiX Master)

2006-06-19 06:28 AM

Re: Outlook Profile Migration Question

Well I'm gonna log into work soon and just try moving an account and make sure it still works as it should without touching thier profile and see if I can get away with that.