I'm helping a small Managed Service Provider with some issues related to Microsoft 365 in a somewhat outdated setup. The client has a mix of Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices utilizing User Profile Disks (UPD) primarily for Outlook and Office apps (no SharePoint or OneDrive). The plan is to eventually switch to FsLogix, but first, we need to stabilize their current situation.
Users are experiencing random sign-outs from Word and problems opening Outlook entirely at times. The UPD is roaming all user data, including local appdata, which seems to be part of the problem. I've excluded several folders from the UPD like the AAD Broker Plugin and Cloud Experience Host to alleviate issues on Windows 10, but this has introduced a new problem on Windows 11. Before the UPD mounts, a local profile folder is created with a 'cache1.bin' file that prevents the local profile from being removed and thus blocks the UPD from mounting.
Is there a way to ensure the Microsoft 365 apps function correctly with UPD on Windows 11? I would prefer transitioning to FsLogix directly, but they want to troubleshoot the current configuration first, which is why I'm seeking ways to mitigate these issues.
2 Answers
I noticed you're excluding AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin_cw5n1h2txyewy. Just a heads up, that could cause issues with Teams if you ever decide to use it in the future. Are you using UPD mainly for RDS or just to roam profiles between PCs?
Have you considered moving everything to OneDrive? You could easily redirect user folders there with a bit of scripting. It's a handy way to manage their files, especially since these users often switch between rooms. Plus, browsers like Edge and Chrome can sync their data across devices seamlessly, which is a big perk.
That was my initial thought, too. But since they're in a small clinic, I understand the need for roaming profiles. Big changes like that require time and proper testing, and they’re looking for a quick fix right now, which seems tricky with Windows 11 and Microsoft 365.
True, and OneDrive can get sluggish unless everything is cached locally, plus that can hit local drive limits. UPD has its headaches, but it does offer single instance storage which can be a lifesaver.
We're just roaming profiles between PCs. They don't use Teams at all, only the classic Outlook, Word, and Excel with a file server.