Understanding User Profiles in Windows 7

Beginning with Windows Vista, the way user profiles are implemented significantly changed compared with how they were implemented in earlier versions of Windows. One example of this change is the default storage location for local user profiles, which changed from C:\Documents And Settings in Windows XP to C:\Users in Windows Vista. Another example is the default location where documents are saved, which changed from the My Documents known folder in Windows XP to the Documents known folder in Windows Vista.

Windows 7 does not introduce any significant changes to the underlying structure of user profiles or where they are stored. However, Windows 7 does change the user experience of accessing user profile folders by introducing a new feature called Libraries. The following sections describe in detail the underlying structure of user profiles in Windows 7 and how the new Libraries feature helps users keep their documents and other files organized.

It's important for administrators to understand how user profiles work and how they are implemented. For example, because of user profile differences, a roaming user profile cannot be shared between a computer running Windows 7 (or Windows Vista) and one running Windows XP. Understanding how user profiles are implemented can also help administrators troubleshoot issues with users who cannot access their desktop or documents. Finally, an understanding of how user profiles work can provide guidance for training users on how they store and organize their documents.