Xp machines logon

**chrbb** · 8th May 2007, 05:01 PM

This is driving me crazy!!!
I have one xp pro machine that if the domain is unavailable will not allow logons except for administrator. The message the domain blah,blah is not available etc. shows and will not let anyone logon. My new machines will allow logons and then advise mapped network drives are not available. I've set all the machines up, not cloned, but cannot work out what is different with this one machine.
I really want the other machines to work in the same way but can't remember or find out how.

**Ric_** · 8th May 2007, 05:09 PM

Sounds like this machine isn't caching logons. Assuming that you use Group Policy to manage the clients, check DNS, etc. and then make sure that the machine runs GPUPDATE OK.

If you aren't using Group Policy, check the local policy for stuff about cached logons.

**chrbb** · 8th May 2007, 06:17 PM

Checked the local policy same cached logon settings as other machines. we use gpo from the server but I have run gpupdate on all machines.

**Ric_** · 8th May 2007, 06:27 PM

Have you tried rejoining the domain? This can often cure bizzarre problems like this.

**chrbb** · 8th May 2007, 06:32 PM

Yes, but I want the other machines to not allow logons when the domain isn't available! I know I could set the cached logons to 0 on the other workstations .. but I'm intrigued as to what is making the one machine display the domain is not available message when I take the network cable out.

**Ric_** · 8th May 2007, 06:49 PM

There is another policy IIRC that states not to allow logons if the profile is unavailable but I don't think that the same error message would be generated. What does the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) say?

**ajbritton** · 8th May 2007, 08:22 PM

I know it's a silly question, but the user accounts have actually been cached before trying to use them offline haven't they?

**chrbb** · 8th May 2007, 09:52 PM

I'm open to all questions silly or not!

**chrbb** · 10th May 2007, 07:59 AM

Sorted - the machine that was preventing users from logging on if domain not available had cached profiles from the server we had replaced a couple of months ago. Simple solution but so frustrating to find.

Now I have to decide if I want to change number of cached logons to 0 or just leave it so that when/if the server is down classes can still logon and have a lesson of sorts in the suite.

**Geoff** · 10th May 2007, 08:12 AM

Just run delprof regularly.

**Gatt** · 10th May 2007, 09:28 AM

I run DELPROF on every login - we dont use roaming profiles as they are redirected and everything locked down tighter than.. than... a very tight thing!!!