recompose is deleting user data

[vmware128]

Hello,

I'm currently evaluating View and I have created a Dedicated Linked Clone Pool with separate persistent disks and disposable disks. I made some updates to the master image and attempted to recompose. I tested my desktop by creating a folder on the desktop and saving some bookmarks in Chrome. After the recompose was completed , I noticed the folder I created on the desktop was gone and my bookmarks were also lost. I thought having a separate persistent disk was suppose to avoid this?  Thanks.

[mittim12]

After creating the bookmark and prior to recomposing did you verify that the bookmark was created on the persistent drive?    It seems to me that it may have been stored on c:\ and then was removed during the recompose.

[vmware128]

I did not verify. Sorry, I'm still reading up on View but isn't it automatically suppose to store(redirect) data like desktop items and my documents to the persistent disk? The only think I have in the Persistent disk is a folder called personality and personality bak->profiles and a bunch of small 8KB file called S-1-5-18 , S-1-5-19 etc....... I just created a folder and it's storing it on C:\. why is that?

[mittim12 · Accepted solution]

It does automatically add them to the persistent disk except in cases where the profile is already created on the golden image.   Make sure your user profile isn't on the template and see if it will store everything on the persistent disk. 

[vmware128]

It did have my profile in the template. I removed it and I'm now attempting a recompose. In the meantime, what are those personality.bak and all those S-* files , can they be removed? I know users are going to try and remove those files. Is there a way to hide those disks from the user inside the desktop? I'll post back once it's finished. Thanks a bunch.

[vmware128]

I recomposed and now when I login it's displaying a message "you have been logged on with a temporary profile, you cannot access your files......."

[vmware128]

found a KB article on it(2007105)..I'll give it a try..

[mittim12]

How did you remove the profile from the template?   In the newer version of WIndows you can't just delete the folder you have to do it via computer properties, advanced, user profiles.

[vmware128]

I used the correct method you specified above computer->properties->advanced->user profiles. I also checked the registry per the KB article. I think it's the persona management because I now know what those S-* files are and it keeps recreating it when logon. Where in View do I specify the Repository? it must be grabbing it from some place. The KB says to remove the profile from the repository

[mittim12]

The repository for persona is specified in a GPO but are you sure your using persona?   It's a different method of handling profiles than the View persistent disk. 

[vmware128]

I don't think I am, sorry, I didn't install that part of if I'm just handling testing creating virtual desktops. So then where is it grabbing the personality and personality.bak folders which contains my profile ,as a  result, that's probably why it can't create mine. I also asked our windows admin and he said we are not using roaming profiles.

[vmware128]

http://terenceluk.blogspot.com/2012/03/vmware-view-50-user-profiles-on-windows.html I just recreated the pool and it works now. I could have tried what the link specified but I just started from scratch. Thanks

[Sam_Wonder]

What if a client store her/him data on Disposable Disk and an IT administrator does the Recompose on that vm? is there any way to recover the last Disposable Disk data?