Microsoft USMT (User State Migration Tool) is a proven and powerful tool that allows a PC administrator to package a Windows Account Profile into a single file to be moved to another PC or backed up. One of the main benefits of this tool is that profiles are moved safely and includes all settings, files, shortcuts, etc.

One of the main drawbacks of USMT is that you have to log into each PC you want to back-up or restore and manually run the USMT application via command line (or script). This article outlines a way to run USMT remotely over a network connection in a way that an end-user will not even notice.

Quick Overview

Below is high level overview of what needs to happen

Backup:

1. USMT must be invoked on the remote PC.
2. The script that invoked USMT must detect when it has finished.
3. The User Account Profile file generated by USMT must be copied to its destination.

Restore:

1. The User Account Profile file generated by USMT on the previous PC must be copied to this PC.
2. USMT must be invoked on the remote PC.
3. The script that invoked USMT must detect when it has finished.

Example Code

Backup:

#Modify this:
$PCToBackUp  = "DESKTOP-47HJ43"

Invoke-Command -ComputerName $PCToBackUp -ScriptBlock {

    #Modify these:
    $ProfileName = "CONTOSO\john"
    $PathToUSMT  = "\\server\usmt"
    $StorePath   = "\\server\migrationstore"

    #Begin Script
    $USMTArgs  = "$StorePath /config:config.xml /i:migdocs.xml /i:migapp.xml /ui:$ProfileName"
    Start-Process -FilePath "PathToUSMT\scanstate.exe" -ArgumentList $USMTArgs -Wait

}

Restore:

#Modify this:
$PCToBackUp  = "DESKTOP-K59D35"

Invoke-Command -ComputerName $PCToBackUp -ScriptBlock {

    #Modify these:
    $ProfileName = "CONTOSO\john"
    $PathToUSMT  = "\\server\usmt"
    $StorePath   = "\\server\migrationstore"

    #Begin Script
    $USMTArgs  = "$StorePath /i:migapp.xml /i:migdocs.xml /ui:$ProfileName"
    Start-Process -FilePath "PathToUSMT\loadstate.exe" -ArgumentList $USMTArgs -Wait

}

Is there a better way?

Yes! There are many GUI (Graphical User Interface) applications that exist that can perform remote profile migrations.

	Super Grate	USMT GUI	PCmover Express
Windows 7-11 Support	✅	✅	✅
Transfer user accounts	✅	✅	✅
Transfer applications	✅	✅	✅
Transfer over the network	✅	❌ Requires additional purchase	✅
Open Source	✅	❌	❌
Portable (no installation necessary)	✅	Unknown	❌
Change user domain	✅	✅	✅
Change user name	✅	✅	✅
Delete user profiles remotely	✅	❌	❌
USMT customization	✅	✅	❌
Free	✅	❌	❌