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Summary This article documents migrating a local Windows user profile to a new Microsoft Entra ID account on the same machine. The primary focus is on developing a detailed, PowerShell driven methodology as a viable alternative to commercial, third-party tools such as Profwiz. The inherent complexity of this task stems from the need to re-associate an existing user profile with a new security context. This is not a simple data transfer but a precise, low-level reconfiguration of core Windows components, including the file system and the registry. The analysis concludes that a "PowerShell only" solution is a misnomer. A robust and reliable scripted approach must orchestrate a hybrid workflow, leveraging native cmdlets in conjunction with essential command-line utilities like reg.exe, icacls.exe, and takeown.exe. The limitations of 's built-in providers necessitate this approach for critical actions, such as loading and unloading another user's registry hive. A manual, scripted migration provides granular control and eliminates licensing costs associated with commercial software. However, it is a high-risk operation that lacks built-in transactional safety and a "rollback" feature, making it suitable for one-off tasks or for IT professionals who require a deep, auditable understanding of the process. For large scale, enterprise-level deployments, commercial tools designed for high reliability and ease of use remain the preferred solution. The scripted method, while powerful and customizable, demands a high degree of technical expertise and meticulous execution to mitigate the risk of data corruption and system instability.
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