One user profile for multiple computers?

Question

Windows

Hello.

What is the best way to make one profile for 2 computers?
There is a desktop computer and a laptop.
I would like to see the same documents, shortcuts, etc. on both desktops.

I see it this way: we take the folders of the desktop, documents and downloads, throw them into onedrive and instead of the folders themselves we make hard links. More or less like this.

Will such a scheme work? Or is there a better option?

Answer 1

You need a domain controller, from free ones based on linux samba, for this you need a separate machine, almost a raspberry is enough, you can use cloud solutions (it’s better to set it up yourself on vps), you need vpn before them (it’s not necessary to make the Internet go through him, only the local network). Truth without access to the domain controller there will be difficulties.
Without a domain controller, you will have to farm, there are many options, but they all suffer from different problems.
For example, in addition to shortcuts and files, there are application settings that are stored both in the form of Local and AppData files in the user profile and in the registry. And there are application settings that are global for local users but within the same computer, they are also stored in the registry or in the c:\ProgramData directory (by the way, the domain controller does not synchronize these settings)
If you only need files, then there are a million solutions, I recommend synchronizing files with using syncting (free, does not require the Internet, while working through it if necessary, simple, multifunctional - all sorts of dropboxes go through the forest, do not feed them with your data). from a disadvantage, both machines must be turned on for the duration of the synchronization, or add a third.
Another option is to make the stationary machine a 'server', ie. let it not turn off, then instead of copying, you can specify the shortcuts on the laptop to the corresponding server directories, everything will open over the network (you can’t do this with shortcuts).
I have not seen universal transparent synchronization of settings and installation of applications, there are such under linux, but not under windows.