Networks

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Slow network login

0 helpful
11 replies

by mrog71

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I just switched our network from a peer to peer to a client server with Windows 2000 server. I have 7 client computers all running winXP Pro, except for 1 that runs Win 98. When the WinXP clients logon, it takes a very long time to process the logon, like around 60 seconds or more. During this time it says "applying your personal settings". The Win98 machine logs on and boots up almost instantly.
Any suggestions???
Thanks!!

11 replies

by timwalsh

WinXP Pro is Active Directory-aware and thus more information is exchanged during the log-on process.

Logging on with WinXP also requires that a computer account exist in addition to the user account. Therefore, that authentication also takes place.

Being AD-aware, XP also understands Group Policy. Therefore, group policy is also applied during log-on.

Lastly, efficient log-ons require that at least one Directory Controller at each site be set as a Global Catalog Server.

Win98, not being AD-aware, merely checks userID and password.

As suggested in Answer 1, there are some tweaks you can make to speed things up.

by sgt_shultz

see mskb article 329457, Computer Seems to Hang When You Log On
SYMPTOMS
When you log on to a computer that uses a complex array of group policies, your computer may seem to stop responding (hang) at the "Applying your personal settings" screen after you supply your user name, password, and domain information.
CAUSE
This problem is caused by a critical section leak.
RESOLUTION
A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this fix.

by techrepublic

If you are using Active Directory, make sure the DNS entries you have specified on the client machine are located on the local network. If these point to an external network, WinXP tries to resolve the DNS entry before it proceeds resulting in an extremely slow logon time. I encountered this previously and the logon time went from over a minute to about 10 seconds with no other changes.

by mrog71

That was it!! My login time went from over a minute to about 10 seconds, like yours! YES! Thank you so much. Nothing like web forums to make you look like an IT genious to everyone else in your company. I'm pretty new to this network admin stuff, background is in databases. THANK YOU!
Matt

This discussion is closed to new replies.