System very slow to boot when on network, but no domain

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mikek · #1 Post by **mikek** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:29 pm

I have second thinkpad (nice T60 replacing T42). Both exhibit same behaviour. They belong to my company, and log on to the company domain. Off line they log on using the cached domain credentials.

At home, when connected to my home network, either wirelessly or wired, log-in can take up to 15 mins, although 3 or 4 mins is more common. At this time there is no discernible activity - save intermittent network traffic.

It's as though the machines are waiting for some comms (that never comes) from the domain before finishing the log on sequence... and then eventually times out. If I log on with all network disconnected or disabled, T60 logs in in seconds... very quick.

From searching this forum, I see a couple of old posts in T4x forum that note the same behaviour.

Is this normal for domain machines not seeing their home domain? Or is it a feature of the build on my laptop, ie something buggy introduced by my firm's build?

Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

Thanks

mikek · #2 Post by **mikek** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:30 pm

forgot to say - it's not just my home network... any other network than that containing the domain causes this behaviour.

#3 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:36 pm

Perhaps you have connected file shares or printers that think they belong on the domain and actively look for the domain when on any network.

I put batch files in the Group Policy area of System32 to disconnect network shares whenever logging off. Then there is no re-connect trauma.
... JDH

mikek · #4 Post by **mikek** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:11 pm

Well, I guess I do, but that's normal for a laptop isn't it? Not much point in being part of a domain if you don't have access to shared resources... or is there some subtle point about how such links are made/stored?

My printers include some network printers on the domain, and about 20G of synchronized files - plus probably some network drives that might want to reconnect at logon. But surely if the machine logs on using cached credentials because domain controller is not available, it shouldn't then be wasting time looking for the domain.... although I know that should the domain become available (ie through VPN) it then does things on the fly....

Any more suggestions gratefully recieved!!
Regards

#5 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:09 pm

In Windows Explorer, before taking the TP home, click on Tools/Disconnect Network Drive... and do what it says on the tin.
When you log on at work again, reconnect them.
You could probably do this using a batch file or keyboard macro.

#6 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:38 pm

mikek wrote:Well, I guess I do, but that's normal for a laptop isn't it? Not much point in being part of a domain if you don't have access to shared resources... or is there some subtle point about how such links are made/stored?
<snip>
Any more suggestions gratefully recieved!!
Regards

I am not saying you shouldn't have access to shared resources. What realblackstuff and I are saying is disconnect them when done to prevent trying to reconnect when not on the domain. Batch files to disconnect and then to connect are easiest over the long haul as the disconnect is automatic with logoff or shutdown. Your company technical support should be able to assist here.

The slowness you experience is not so subtle with me, which I why I make the recommendation (and indeed follow my own advice).
... JDH

tyanlion · #7 Post by **tyanlion** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:12 pm

I have this same problem on my x60s. The place where I work at has it own domain and is fixed into my lappie. The reason why it is taking so long to boot on the other networks is that windows is looking for network folders and printers and stuff like that. To fix this simply just switch off the wirless switch before you go into windows or disconnect your ethernet wire . Alternatively at work you could hold off restarting the pc at that point and not connect wireless before you log into windows, cause you will be stuck in the work network. Really MS should come out with a fix for this, its really ridiculous that in 2007 they have no solution to such a simple problem and have no foresight to see this would be an everyday occurance to some people.

#8 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:18 pm

tyanlion wrote:<snip>
Alternatively at work you could hold off restarting the pc at that point and not connect wireless before you log into windows, cause you will be stuck in the work network. Really MS should come out with a fix for this, its really ridiculous that in 2007 they have no solution to such a simple problem and have no foresight to see this would be an everyday occurance to some people.

It is not really an issue with the type of connection (in my experience), it is an issue with the share connections. For small clients, I recommend laptops not be domain connected in the first place. A batch file (on the desktop) connects to domain resources when needed, and a shutdown script (gpedit) knocks the resources off on logoff.

Yes, most definitely, Microsoft should have a way around this.
... JDH

mikek · #9 Post by **mikek** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:41 am

Guys - thanks for your input. Normally I can boot with no network, but occasionally, with my T42, if I'd left wifi on, then I'd have this problem, sometimes in spades, with 15 minutes to log in. My T60 now has little hardware switch for wifi, so I shouldn't have this problem in future!

Not quite sure that I can envisage how the disconnexion and reconnexion can be done by batch - any chance of posting an example line?

And as for manually undoing about two dozen mapped drives and other links.... no thanks.

But thanks for the info. good to know I'm not alone... and why isn't M$ working on this - it sounds like an enormous corporate overhead for anyone with a company laptop...

#10 Post by **bill bolton** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:58 am

mikek wrote:but that's normal for a laptop isn't it?

Microsoft wrote W2K and XP that way..... go figure.

So far Vistra seems to be MUCH better in terms of understanding when mapped drives etc are absent and just getting on with using whatever resources are actually available.

Cheers,

Bill B.

mikek · #11 Post by **mikek** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:29 am

Thanks Bill - as my company only moves OS just about 6 months before next one comes out... I'll probably be stuck on Xp for ever! but good to know that the penny might have dropped with Vista.

Main thing is, if I know it's a M$ cockup then I can stop blaming the propeller heads at my office for giving me an inappropriate build, and just get on and manage round it.

If I could just find a fix for easily changing the screen res between docked and undocked with my new T60, I'd be home and dry http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=41425

Thanks

#12 Post by **tomh009** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:52 am

mikek wrote:If I could just find a fix for easily changing the screen res between docked and undocked with my new T60, I'd be home and dry http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=41425

Presentation Director can do that for you automatically when docking and undocking. My X31 is set to 1600x1200 external only (Manage Presentation Director Settings > When ThinkPad is docked > Immediately apply this display scheme).

Or does this not work for you?

mikek · #13 Post by **mikek** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:34 am

thanks Tom - There seems to be some problems with Presentation Director on T60s - according to the T60 forum, and in my experience. Firstly it doesn't do it automatically - you have to open the lid to press Fn+F7. And when it does so, it cycles through a 1024 x 768 mode first, screwing up window and icon positions....

hence my desire to have the ATI tray icon to do it from...

#14 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 3:34 am

Worst case scenario, copy the files you want to work on, onto a USB stick and load them on your homePC. When done, copy back onto stick->TP.

If you right-click anywhere on your 'Desktop', select Properties, and go find the setting to show the ATI tray icon.

System very slow to boot when on network, but no domain

System very slow to boot when on network, but no domain

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