Logon greyed out

[JChester42]

I am trying to logon to Server 2003 from keyboard (local) and when I do ctrl alt delete, the box where you enter user name and password is greyed out.
Anyone know what is up with that?
I can still logon via Remote Desktop

 

[ncotton]

Are you the normal administrator for this system. There is screening software which runs invissably, and when active basically locks the screen, untill it recieved, again transparently a password/keystroke. This could be running. Otherwise, the only other thing that gives a greyed out login box is if the windows logon service is still loading, and happens to have crashed. I assume you have rebooted....

Are you trying to logon from boot, or bring out of "LOCKED WORKSTATION"?

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant

 

[Wishdiak]

JChester42,

My hunch would be that the Log on Locally setting is disabled through a GPO applied to this DC.

If you can logon through Remote Desktop, it should be easy enough to check.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[ncotton]

Yeah....that aswell..I forgot that one exists...this is most likely your problem. well spotted Wish

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant

 

[JChester42]

Well I rebooted the server, and logon came back, it has worked fine for several days now, but the problem has come back again today (have not rebooted server). I check the GPO, and the log on locally option, has not been set. Any other ideas?

 

[onechuck]

Have you tried going into Safe Mode and see if you still have that same problem?

 

[JChester42]

Well, I really can't do that, because I can't leave the server in safe mode for an extended amount of time, The problem doesn't show up for several days of being up.

 

[ncotton]

i think he means just do it to check this time, if a reboot doesn't do it.

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant

 

[mjarratt]

I had this problem before. Connect to the server remotely via Termial Services (use the command line option mstsc.exe /console. I think this is correct. This should connect to the server via console. Once connected and authenitcated, just log off. Go to the server and see if you can log in from the console. I ran into this and had another user connecting inadvertently with the console switch. This locks the actual console and does not permit you to log in.

MJ