Windows User Folders Called Username.Hostname After Leaving ActiveDirectory Domain/Demoting Server from AD Controller

Question

After demoting a Windows Server 2019 from an ActiveDirectory domain controller to a regular server (which naturally deletes all user accounts except for the Administrator account) I recreated a few user accounts which does create the correct user folder C:UsersUsername. Once that user logs in, another folder C:UsersUsername.Hostname is created though. (Hostname being the machine's name)
How do I fix this issue?

Worthwelle · Answer

If the folders exist before the user logs in for the first time, Windows will always create a new folder. If they're domain users the folder will be Username.Domain, otherwise it will be Username.Hostname.
I suggest following these steps:

Backup any necessary files from C:UsersUsername and C:UsersUsername.Hostname.

Open System Properties through:

open the Run dialog → sysdm.cpl
right click This PC/Computer/My Computer → Properties.
press Win + Pause and click Advanced properties

Go to the Advanced tab and click the Settings… button under User Profiles.

Delete the profiles you're having an issue with. If you didn't do this before demoting, they may show up by their ID's instead of the username, so be careful.

Open File Explorer and delete both the C:UsersUsername and C:UsersUsername.Hostname folders if they are left behind. This is common for really big profiles.

Log the user back in again.

Verify that the folders are created correctly and restore the backed up files there.

Windows User Folders Called Username.Hostname After Leaving ActiveDirectory Domain/Demoting Server from AD Controller

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