I am learning quite a bit about the Windows 2012 environment thanks to a recent server migration. The biggest lesson so far deals with Folder Redirection, and the effects of repeated adjustments to the GPO settings.
Under certain circumstances, folder redirection seems to get “stuck” showing either an old folder path or none at all when the user goes looking for their documents. The Group Policy Results tool seems to confirm that the Folder Redirection settings are not being applied at all for the user/computer profile that is stuck. Frustratingly, I couldn’t find any problem with my Group Policy configuration.
No amount of logging off and on, adjusting permissions, or messing with Group Policy seems to have any effect.
In the end, I was able to clear up the problem by running this command:
gpupdate /Target:User /Force /Logoff
The key here is the Force option, which successfully resets the folder redirection policy for that user profile, and perhaps all the profiles on that particular computer. Problem solved! Windows 8.1, Windows 2012, and possibly other versions are affected.