What is a "profile"?

A Windows User Profile contains default desktop settings and any changes that the user chooses to make to those settings. Changes might include wallpaper, colors, desktop shortcuts, Thunderbird and other application settings, and user-selected printers.

At present, user profiles are stored separately from user files which makes users less susceptible to inadvertent damage to their profiles, yet there are still numerous ways that users can can get into trouble. 

Technically, a user has 2 profiles:

• Roaming profile – stored in the user's "\\khensu\Profile[nn]\username\Windows Profile" and "\\khensu\Profile[nn]\username\Application Data" directories, available at any MCECS Windows computer where the user can log onto the network.
• Local profile – a copy of the user's roaming profile, created on the C: drive when the user logs onto the network.

Desktop changes are first saved to the local profile. When the user logs off the network, the local profile overwrites the roaming profile. This makes it possible for those changes to be available at other Windows systems on the network.