Turning off folder redirection

GlenTech 486 Reputation points
2021-09-21T15:40:28.797+00:00

I’m trying to kill a folder redirection policy that’s not needed anymore but having a tough time getting it to revert the Documents, Pictures, and Videos folders back to the local path (%USERPROFILE%\Documents, %USERPROFILE%\Videos, %USERPROFILE%\Pictures)

I created a new folder redirection GPO along with a test OU and changed the setting under the target tab “Target folder location” to redirect to the local userprofile location”. Also made sure the user was in the new OU.

Also, under the Settings tab > Policy Removal it’s set to “redirect the folder back to the local userprofile location when the policy is removed”. Having this one enabled would seem like once I delete the GPO from the Users OU that it would set those folders back to the default but after multiple reboots and running GPUPDATE /FORCE a few times, it’s still being redirected to the server somehow.

I can see the new GPO is applied when running a GPRESULT /R but it’s like it’s not even applying the settings for some reason. It’s the only folder redirection GPO being applied. Any suggestions?

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Windows
Windows
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  1. Limitless Technology 39,376 Reputation points
    2021-09-21T20:01:59.333+00:00

    Hello @GlenTech

    Unfortunately if the first folder redirection was not enabled to "Revert files to the original location" there is a high change that the folders will not move even creating a new policy.

    For a one time off, I would recommend the manual approach. Proceed as follows:

    Disable Folder Redirection for that specific profile
    Run> gpupdate
    Reboot the computer.
    (On the workstation) verify the location of Documents, Pictures & Downloads.
    To verify the location of Documents, Pictures & Downloads, on a User Workstation:

    press Win + E & Go to "C:\Users\%profilename%"
    Right Click on each of the redirected folders (ie. Documents, Pictures, Downloads, etc.).
    Click on Properties. Go to the Location Tab to verify the folder location.
    Repeat Steps 1..3 for each redirected folder to verify the Folders location.

    IF the Location is not correct, Then Click on the "Restore Default"-Button.
    That will restore your Redirected Folders to their default locations (ie. "C:\Users\%profilename%\Documents", "C:\Users\%profilename%\Downloads", etc.)

    Hope this helps you save time,
    Best regards,

    --If the the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept as answer--

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  2. Ankit Kumar Singh 1 Reputation point
    2022-03-23T18:52:30.733+00:00

    I have come across the same issue a performed the below steps.

    1. Ran gpupdate /force command on DC as well as on the workstation where user 99 was logged in.
    2. Checked and found that the group policy of folder redirection was successfully getting applied to the user.
    3. We removed “user99” from the “staff” OU and placed it in a different OU where there was no folder redirection policy being applied.
    4. We then executed the following commands on the DC
    5. Gpupdate /force
    6. Repadmin /syncall /AeP
    7. Repadmin /syncall /AePdq
    8. Gpupdate /force
      We executed the command “gpupdate /force” on the workstation where the user was logged in and rebooted the system.
      Eventually, we have confirmed that following the above process the folder redirection group policy was getting disabled to the users which were removed from the “staff” OU and their desktop and documents folder too were redirected locally.

    You further mentioned that you would be doing the step to disable folder redirection policy from other users in the OU as per your schedule.

    Please perform the steps mentioned in this email to get the folder redirected for other users locally and let me know in case of any assistance required from our side.

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