We have client computers for public access and network print servers (all running XP Pro). We use special software to allow them to print (there's a module for the clients and one for the servers). The software only runs when the computer is logged in, though (it starts on its own once the computer is logged in).
We need the public clients to log in automatically when booted. We are thus also setting the print servers to log on automatically. However, if the client modules start before the print server modules are ready, then the clients cannot connect to the servers in order to print (and they must be rebooted before the users can print).
This becomes a problem when we have power outages (which are quite frequent here), because there's a chance that a good number of the clients will login before the servers have had a chance to. Therefore, if we can insert a delay into the boot-auto login process for the clients (computer boots, waits 30 seconds, then logs on), then we'd be in good shape.
This is caused by the asyncronous loading of networking during the boot up process. This speeds up the login process in a stand-alone workstation by allowing the user to log in with cached logon credentials before the network is fully ready.
To disable this "feature" and restore your logons to their normal speed, open the MMC and add the group policy snap-in. Under Computer Configuration-->Administrative Templates-->System-->Logon, change "Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon" to ENABLED.
Well, the accounts being used for both have mandatory profiles, so they're loaded from the network every time the accounts are logged in. The profiles are very lean, so load times are short.
I suppose I could always add a 50MB file to the client account profile, but that seems more like a "quick and dirty" method If there's a way, I'd rather have the auto-login delay itself, even if only for 10-15 seconds.
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