Question

Logon cached credentials error: The system cannot log you on now because the domain is not avaliable

Asked by: oaadmin

We have a few computers that have received this error when logging on to their laptop off the network:

The system cannot log you on now because the domain is not avaliable

We have tried clearing the logon cached credentials, and then had the user re-cache their logon by doing the following steps:

Clear the users cache from the machine by setting cachedlogonscount
value to 0 under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Change the cachedlogonscount value to 10 and cached the users
credentials once again.

In all the cases we've had though, the user has been travelling, and is not able to re-connect to our network to re-cache the logon. Does anyone have a solution to prevent this error from happening? And/or some insight as to what can cause this?

Clearing the cached credentials appears to fix the problem once it has happened, but we need some help to find out what is causing this, and a way to prevent it.

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Asked On
2009-06-23 at 11:03:14ID24515613
Tags

Windows XP

,

logon cache

,

domain

Topics

Windows XP Operating System

,

Operating Systems Network Security

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: johnb6767Posted on 2009-06-23 at 11:38:07ID: 24694639

Are they trying this with the LAN cable plugged in, or disconnected from WIFI/Wired LAN?
I have often seen where it tries to find the domain if there is a valid LAN connection detected, and will eventually time out, and errorr..... Unplugging the cable and retrying usually has worked for me.....

 

by: VenomSnakePosted on 2009-06-23 at 11:51:19ID: 24694764

You might be better off making a local account that the users can use on the laptops in addition to their domain account. Cached logons have been very flakey for me in general.

 

by: aleinssPosted on 2009-06-23 at 13:04:22ID: 24695606

Are they the last logged in user before they leave the network?  I've always found that if I log in and give to laptop to the user, they cannot login on the road....it only works for 1 user account remotely and that is the one that was last logged in.

 

by: oaadminPosted on 2009-06-25 at 08:21:11ID: 24712311

johnb6767:

the lan cable and wifi are disconnected when they try to sign in.

aleinss:

in all the cases we've had, they are the last person to log in before leaving the network. We have the logon cache set to cache 10 logons.

 

by: aleinssPosted on 2009-06-25 at 08:28:06ID: 24712391

Are you using local or domain group policy?  

If so, check the value of  "Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon"

This should be set to disabled if you want to use cached credentials.

 

by: oaadminPosted on 2009-06-25 at 11:00:47ID: 24714185

On the machines with the problem, this is set to "not configured."  Will cached credentials only work if this is disabled?

 

by: aleinssPosted on 2009-06-25 at 11:07:26ID: 24714267

If it was set to Enabled, that would cause not to work as it would wait for the domain to be contacted and not let you in.  I'll see if I can find any other settings that would cause this.

 

by: aleinssPosted on 2009-06-25 at 11:20:47ID: 24714415

What is this value set to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft \Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

ValueName: ReportControllerMissing
Data Type: REG_SZ
Values: TRUE

If it's TRUE, set it to FALSE.

The actual caching takes place here:

HKLM\security\cached

You'll need to give yourself rights to the key before you can open it.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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