Hi, My question is in regard to preserving a users desktop settings. Currently I backup XP workstations using NTBackup to a server share. I copy "Documents & Settings" folder daily and the sytem state monthly. I have noticed that restoring the "Documents & Settings" to a new system does not perserve settings such as background and a users taskbar settings among other things. If I restore the system state, I know that this will probably include the information I need. However, I know I can't restore the "system state" to a new workstation because of differences in the HAL. I have sucessfully used the "Copy to" System>User profiles function to a network share and restored it to another pc with more sucess. *However*, I am looking for a way to automate this type of backup, via command line! Can anyone give me any hints? Can I backup the information I need using NTBackup while a user is working? Michelle

Trawling through my somewhat hazy memory (so i hope this helps a little!) I remember win98 sr1 used to contain settings like the desktop colour and background, as well as the taskbar options in the registry, certainly the background was held in 2 or 3 keys which you could change via commandline (batch files!). Its not unlike microsoft to totally change the location of settings and ways in which they are stored! Sorry i cannot help further!

Hadyn, Thanks for the info. I'm still trying to figure out why what I'm trying to do is difficult!??! You'd think perserving a desktop and settings would be so simple when migrating to a new PC. I know about the file and transfer settings wizard. If I could automate this I would! I'm stuck using NT Backup. Anyone else have any ideas? Michelle