Logging into Win 7 laptops offline

[JakG]

Hi!

 

I am trying to do some testing with running Windows 7 laptops as we are still on XP. So far the testing isn't going great as I've pretty much fallen at the first hurdle.

 

I've added the laptop to the domain but when I disable the wireless and unplug the network cable I can't log in while its offline (Simulating teachers taking there laptops home). I'm getting the error message:"There are currently no logon servers available to service the logon request.".

 

Now i might be missing something really obvious here so apologies if i am!

 

Thanks!

 

Jak

[newpersn]

try..

 

\Username

Password

 

You would need to create an offline user for them to use. (unless there an other way)

[Steve21]

Hi!

 

Now i might be missing something really obvious here so apologies if i am!

 

Thanks!

 

Jak

 

Will need to enable cached logins if you want them to use the one from school, rather than a seperate local login.

 

Steve

[Dagaz]

Hi,

 

do you have a GPO does not allow to log on locally if network not present. is something like do not allow temporary profiles?

 

thanks

 

robs

[Norphy]

The really obvious question is: Has the account that you're trying to log on with offline been logged onto that computer before?

[JakG]

The really obvious question is: Has the account that you're trying to log on with offline been logged onto that computer before?

 

Thanks for all the replies. Yes it has. I'm experienting with with GPO's now.

 

Thanks all.

[scottpowers82]

Do you maybe have any group policies that explicitly disable the offline files? If I remember correctly, Offline Files is enabled by default in Windows 7, so it should try to automatically cache the user files onto the computer after you have logged in as the user. Once offline, it should allow you to log in as that user. We have been using offline files here for years. We have problems sometimes with conflicting files (and then that locking up the sync process), but it goes pretty smooth for the most part.

[falko1]

try..

 

\Username

Password

 

You would need to create an offline user for them to use. (unless there an other way)

 

you can also use

 

.\

[newpersn]

you can also use

 

.\

Ill have to give that ago.

[Pete10141748]

It's perfectly possible, as it's what I have set up here.

 

As others said above you will need to make sure offline files are enabled, login without network connection is allowed, profiles are cached (ie no delprof or anything running on logoff) and that the account has been logged on, synchronised and logged off at least once on the laptop in question.

[plexer]

try..

 

\Username

Password

 

You would need to create an offline user for them to use. (unless there an other way)

 

Yes there is as has been pointed out in this thread, you cache peoples login details so that even when not connected to the network, i.e at home or even in a school building with not networking, the user can carry on as normal and if using offline files as well they can edit and create documents which are then synced the next time the user connects to the network.

 

Ben

[Blue_Cookeh]

Sorry to hijack, but other people may be interested too...

 

Does anyone have any ideas how the taskbar balloon saying "You've been logged in with a temporary/cached profile" (or something to that effect) can be suppressed when offline, or am I doing something wrong? I can't remember if this was a profile problem or because it was actually offline seeing as I haven't had a play with it in a while.

Edited March 28, 2012 by Blue_Cookeh

[Pete10141748]

The only time that warning comes up is if the profile has not loaded correctly - if the cached profile loads fully then that warning shouldnt appear.

[scottpowers82]

Yeah, that is usually a problem with the actual profile on the system, not the fact that they are using Offline Files. I actually just commented on this very subject the other day here on EduGeek, here is what said then, hope it helps:

 

How exactly are you deleting the user accounts on the system? In the XP days, you could just go into Documents and Settings and manually delete a profile folder and now have any problem. But in 7, you need to actually remove the profile from the System Properties window (Control Panel > System and Security > System > Advanced System Settings > User Profiles), otherwise, even though the user profile will be removed, the registry entry for the user profile will still be on the system. Therefore, when you log in, you get a temporary profile every time you try and log in with that account. To actually remove it (after manually deleting the user profile folder), you have to delete the registry key at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. You should see some keys under there that will mention the users local path under the ProfileImagePath setting. Just delete that entire key and try logging on as the user again to see if does anything for you.

[rslulz]

you can also use

 

.\

 

I think he's trying to get into the domain profile offline, and not the local admin account.

 

Just so we're all sure of what you've done thus far... You've already joined this laptop, and user to the domain right?

[Pete10141748]

When this happens to me (or rather, the users' accounts) the quickest method I've found is to delete the profile from the C:\users folder, delete the user from Active Directory, create a new user with the same login details, log in as them, point the relevant folders to their redirected locations, and sync the offline files - hand the laptop back to user, and aside from the password reset they'll never even know what you did.

[mbrunt]

When this happens to me (or rather, the users' accounts) the quickest method I've found is to delete the profile from the C:\users folder, delete the user from Active Directory, create a new user with the same login details, log in as them, point the relevant folders to their redirected locations, and sync the offline files - hand the laptop back to user, and aside from the password reset they'll never even know what you did.

 

 

I don't know exactly what your talking about but deleting AD users and creating them again can never be a good or quick thing to do. If you delete a user and simply create it again using the same name it is not the same account and will have a seperate ID. Security permissions will fail to work for that user etc etc. Be careful.

[akiramoto]

had the same problem, falko's solution worked, thanks!

[Sandman]

I got this from an answers forum. Might be useful.

 

The major changes to Offline Files for Windows 7 includes improved file access and an improved network file experience for users. Before doing this keep in ur mind :

 

1. Fast first logon

2. Usually Offline support with Background Sync

3. Exclusion list

4. Transparent Caching

 

Transparent Caching is not enabled by default. IT administrators can use a Group Policy setting to enable Transparent Caching, improve the efficiency of the cache, and configure the amount of hard disk drive space that the cache uses.

 

Also with regards to ensuring users can “take home” the laptop and taking it off the domain you could use folder redirection and offline files as a possible solution.