CODEWITHSUNDEEP
windowsbatch-file
user3505258
user3505258

Reputation: 321

Windows: user without home directory

I'm automating the process of setting up a service on windows and one of the steps involves creating an account that can be configured as the "Log on as" user for the service.

My script currently has a problem where every time a new user is created in the machine a home directory gets created under /Users/%account%

This account does not need a home directory. Also, the script may run more than once in a machine and the account may be replaced, so I don't want a home directory structure to be created every time.

Is there a way to tell Windows that it shouldn't create a Home directory for the account?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 3368

Answers (1)

MC ND
MC ND

Reputation: 70943

The %account% folder you see in your \users folder is not exactly a home directory, but a profile directory. It is the place where are saved the files (NTUser.dat) that store the registry hives for the CURRENT_USER registry branches and all the configuration for the user. Every account needs a profile and if not present, it will be created on logon from the default user profile.

So, you have two options:

  • use one of the already present service accounts (local system, local service or network service). You will not avoid the presence of a profile, but will reuse the present ones

  • use a virtual account defining the account in the service configuration LogOn tab as NT SERVICE\nameOfYourService

See Service Accounts Step-by-Step Guide for more information

Upvotes: 2

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