One of my file servers running 2003 keeps losing the log on prompt? I can access the drives across the network and it operates fine but I can't log on or shutdown. It gets to the point where I have to shutdown the machine by simply turning it off and I really don't like doing that?

Does anyone know the cause of this or a way round? I'm going to set-up remote desktop to it to try and avoid shutting it down to log on but it doesn't help in the long run.

Cheers

When the machine is running, do you have full interactivity? What does it do when it boots, just sit on a blue windows desktop screen? Do you have a mouse cursor on the screen? Do you use Terminal Services? Have you any GPs configured to "Disable Logon Locally", that might have been assigned?

Hope this Helps.

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant

Hi Neil,

Thanks for the reply. I have control over the mouse cursor, the caps lock etc keys work. I get the blue windows "screen" just minus the logon. I don't have any GP's configured to disbale local logon at all. An Identical machine doing almost identical tasks, although a lot less frequently, is fine.

Just out of curiosity, and a kind of last ditch swing for the fence suggestion. Have you tried logging in,  using keyboard only.
So when you are convinced that the computer has deffinately finished booting and loading the windows services, press ctrl+alt+delete and i think the user name is default to remain as last time, and on ctrl+alt+del cursor defaults to focus on password box. Type your password and press enter. It is possible, especially if you have two graphics cards, that the logon box is "there", just the possition has been set off screen. I had this issue after messing around with a dual display and removing one of the monitors at a later date. Even if u dont have two gfx cards, its possible that the box is off screen, for some reason. Like I said, last ditch attempt.
I would just DOUBLE CHECK your policies and OU structure to make sure there is no issue.

I cant remember if this is correct, but I think in older version of windows if you hold Shift, or Ctrl or something like that, when windows is loading it forces a logon prompt, but that was when it was specified to bypass logon and logon as last user.

If all the above suggestions dont work, you may have a corrupt WinLogon.exe. If you have any way to copy the working machines c:\windows\system32\winlogon.exe into the problem machine. If you haven't shared the folder, you will have to use the C$ admin share, and navigate from there.

Let us know if any of these work.

Hope this Helps.

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant

Hi Neil,

Thanks again, appreciate the advice

I get the logon box straight after booting it up, it's over the course of the next few days after a restart. I lock the computer after I'm finishined doing what I'm doing which leaves windows security window on screen.
I am using a KVM switch, maybe that has something to do  with it???

I've checked it's not "there but off screen" - and checked the GP and OUs again, I've tried to do it keyboard only typing in the password... I'm gonna have a go at replacing the C:\windows\system32\winlogon.exe but I'll have to wait til everyone goes home as it's holding all their desktop files atm.

Thanks for your time

J

I'll do a little reading aswell, see if I can come up with anything for you. The KVM shouldn't have any affect, its not intelligent, so if you are getting any responsive display (mouse cursor moves) then it shouldn't be an issue, but you never know.

Is it EVERY time you lock the server? Or just randomly. If it is random is it predictably random (as in everytime you do this this this and this and then leave it for x hours it happens)

The only other thing it could be is if you have something interfering with the WinLogon service that runs as a process under the system account, rather than a corruption in the exe it's self. I suggested that because I thought that you were never getting the login box, restart, fresh boot, anything.

Other than above, ATM, I'm a bit stumped. I will look into it more. Hope something here helps.

BTW - if you have a spare monitor, just take it of the KVM, just for trial purposes. If that does work, I give up on all basic theories of computing and electronics.

Hope this Helps.

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant

LOL Thanks Neil ;)

dont thank me, pay me.

I accept payment in Cash, online transfers, forum votes, musical instruments, reconditioned furniture, squirel pelt and as a last resort.....cheques.

Hope this Helps.

Neil J Cotton
njc Information Systems
Systems Consultant