Slow log in on XP workstations

[markesmith]

We've just taken over a small primary school which has a mixture of W98 and XP Pro workstations and server 2003 and I'm responsible for the overhaul of the suite over the summer holidays (I'm not really a techie as I work across all areas of ICT within the primary sector but I get by by keeping things simple!). The log in speed of the XP workstations is very, very slow......4/5 minutes. I don't think it can be the switches etc as the 98 machines log in very quickly. What are members views on the commenest causes of slow log with XP. I know DNS usually crops up. The DNS entries on the server point to the server's IP address, correct I guess as there are no external DNS entries on any of this authorities servers. Any ideas?

[Norphy]

Three things that I can think of:

 

Broken DNS. OK, the workstations might be pointing at the right server but if the DNS has been poisoned or if it is just plain inaccurate, you could have problems there

 

Large roaming/mandatory profiles.

 

Excessive amount of policies being applied.

 

I'm inclined to go for the broken DNS option.

[witch]

It is usually a profiles issue for us

Make sure the machines arent holding on to any!

[Guest]

Yep just as the good Norphy said.

 

DNS is the route of all evil

[Joedetic]

Why am i suddenly singing Money by Pink Floyd and trying to fit DNS and other services into the lyrics.

 

 

Hmmmmmmmm......

[mrforgetful]

Also, are you using My Documents folder Redirection in the policies? If so there's a bug that means Windows XP SP2 working with Server 2003 SP1 can add 30 seconds to the login.

 

Other than that it's the same as what others have said, DNS and/or Profiles.

[Geoff]

Also, are you using My Documents folder Redirection in the policies? If so there's a bug that means Windows XP SP2 working with Server 2003 SP1 can add 30 seconds to the login.

 

Got a link for that?

[mrforgetful]

Yeah sure, it's a here

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;899409

 

I actually found the files on the internet but they're free from MS if you ring them.

[Quackers]

Grrrr, i spent ages in contact with microsoft with this glitch when SP2 first came out. In the end i just got rid of roaming profiles and used a mandatory one with the redirection hard coded into the profile.

[Guest]

Yeah sure, it's a here

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;899409

 

I actually found the files on the internet but they're free from MS if you ring them.

 

Would you be willing to share those files?

[DMcCoy]

Why did I not know about this! I knew there was a delay in there somewhere, and that It wasn't my fault!

[Guest]

Linky

 

http://jernstrom.org/site/news.php?item.8

[mrforgetful]

Of course.

 

There's two files, one to be run on the servers, one to be run on the clients.

 

You only need to install it on certain servers, I can't remember which exactly, might be any with profiles stored on them, or on DCs, sorry I can't remember!

[Guest]

WOW

 

Just updated my servers and workstations at one of my site and this has done wonders. Best improvement is the wireless laptops. 60 - 90 seconds to log on down to 10 - 15 seconds.

 

Staff are going to think I have done wonders over the summer

[alan-d]

Right I demand a public inquest on why we didn't know about this sooner!!

 

 

(and Geoff - before you mention Linux - shut up )

[Guest]

I'm not the only one who has noticed that Linux is Geoff answer to all windows related problems and world hunger

[Guest]

Right had a quiet afternoon today, so I thought I would record an example of the difference one little patch can make.

 

2 identical 3 year old RM laptops P4 / 512MB RAM / 54mps Wireless Cards

 

Logging onto the school domain via wireless

 

As you can see almost 30 second difference.

 

File is an MP4 video file just unzip and play

[alan-d]

Nice one

 

We are installing it tomorrow

[E1uSiV3]

Thats ridiculous, why has microsoft not publicly released this update?

 

Im gonna do some testing now

[ChrisH]

Very interesting. I will be doing some experimentation of my own as well

[indiegirl]

Can I just check - the XP update is to go on all workstations presumably... and the server one - just on the DC??

[mrforgetful]

I think it's just the DC yeh, though it might need to go on each one that has folders that are redirected.

 

Any reason why you can't put it on them all to be sure?

[tarquel]

Can I just check - the XP update is to go on all workstations presumably... and the server one - just on the DC??

 

Yep

 

trying it now too

 

Is the possibility of adding it to WSUS a option? - the client one, the server one aint needed on WSUS i thinks lol

 

If not, can it be made MSI-able or some way to GP it? Don't think i can be bothered to walk around all the machines lol

 

Nath.

[alan-d]

Not sure about the MSI yet - we are reimaging all our kit so just stuck it on the image

 

May try and MSI it for the odds & sods we have about

[Geoff]

Can I just check - the XP update is to go on all workstations presumably... and the server one - just on the DC??

 

Yep

 

trying it now too

 

Is the possibility of adding it to WSUS a option? - the client one, the server one aint needed on WSUS i thinks lol

 

If not, can it be made MSI-able or some way to GP it? Don't think i can be bothered to walk around all the machines lol

 

Nath.

 

See KB 262841 for command line options for Windows update packages. You'll be able to roll th e update out via a machine startup script in a group policy using the correct command line options.