In Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and SharePoint Portal Server 2003, user profile information is not backed up or restored. This problem occurs in the following situations:

•	You back up and restore a personal site by using the Stsadm.exe command-line tool.
•	You create a new Shared Services Provider (SSP) that has new SSP databases.

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This behavior is by design. In Office SharePoint Server 2007, user profile information is stored in the SSP database. In SharePoint Portal Server 2003, user profile information is stored in the _PROF database that the portal application uses.

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To back up and to restore profile information, you must perform the following actions:

•	In Office SharePoint Server 2007, you must complete a full SSP backup and restore operation. For example, if you are concerned about data corruption in the SSP database, and you have a backup from before the point of suspected corruption, you can restore that SSP backup to obtain the full set of information.
•	In SharePoint Portal Server 2003, you must complete a full backup and restore operation for the _PROF database that the portal application uses. This process may require that you restore the portal application.

The following are the two components to the My Site data:

•	Personal site - The personal site includes documents and lists. This information is stored as a SharePoint site in the content database.
•	User profile - The user profile includes information about profiles, links, and details. This information is stored in the SSP or in the_PROF database.

If you want to restore user profile data, do not create a new SSP. There is no supported way to back up only the profile information from the SSP, and then to restore the information to a new SSP.

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