Really really slow unless connected to the office LAN

[Steele]

I have a newer Windows XP laptop that works fine when it is in the office
and connected to the LAN. When the user takes the laptop at home, they log
in as their domain user account, which is cached.

There is a great deal of hesitation when the laptop is connected to the home
network. The CPU is normal, and the mouse responds fine, but there is often
an agonizing delay between trying to open something and when it responds.
For example, many times, if the user clicks on the Start button, they will
have to wait 45 seconds or so before the start menu will appear.

This problem does not occur at the office at all.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF the laptop is connected
to the office network through VPN.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF all of the network cards
are turned off.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF the user is logged on as
a local user instead of a cached domain user.

This problem does not occur for any other identical laptops for other users.


It almost seems like the laptop is attempting to contact the domain
resources for something, although I cannot find what. Does anyone have any
thoughts on what may be happening or how to track this down?

Many thanks.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a newer Windows XP laptop that works fine when it is in the
office and connected to the LAN. When the user takes the laptop at
home, they log in as their domain user account, which is cached.

There is a great deal of hesitation when the laptop is connected to
the home network. The CPU is normal, and the mouse responds fine,
but there is often an agonizing delay between trying to open
something and when it responds. For example, many times, if the
user clicks on the Start button, they will have to wait 45 seconds
or so before the start menu will appear.
This problem does not occur at the office at all.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF the laptop is
connected to the office network through VPN.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF all of the
network cards are turned off.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF the user is
logged on as a local user instead of a cached domain user.

This problem does not occur for any other identical laptops for
other users.

It almost seems like the laptop is attempting to contact the domain
resources for something, although I cannot find what. Does anyone
have any thoughts on what may be happening or how to track this
down?

First - what's with the massive cross-posting on this? hah

The problem would probably not occur *if* the user went home, they do not
have any type of network available to the laptop (wirreless off, no network
cable plugged in, etc..) and they logged in. After they had gotten logged
in and up and going they then connected to a network - unless they have
PERSISTENT drive mappings or relocated directories - they should not see the
problem.

The easiest solution I have found is to give the user a local account that
points to the same profile as their domain account. Then have the users
always use the local account - and the machine gets to stay in your domain.
Also - there can be no persistent mappings/redirected folders - or it will
always be looking for those. If they must logon to the domain all the
time - then make sure there are no redirected anything and they have no
persistent mappings and let them know their logon may be slow if their
machine can contact any network at all when they attempt to logon.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

I have a newer Windows XP laptop that works fine when it is in the
office and connected to the LAN. When the user takes the laptop at
home, they log in as their domain user account, which is cached.

There is a great deal of hesitation when the laptop is connected to
the home network. The CPU is normal, and the mouse responds fine, but
there is often an agonizing delay between trying to open something
and when it responds. For example, many times, if the user clicks on
the Start button, they will have to wait 45 seconds or so before the
start menu will appear.
This problem does not occur at the office at all.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF the laptop is
connected to the office network through VPN.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF all of the network
cards are turned off.

This problem does not occur on the home network IF the user is logged
on as a local user instead of a cached domain user.

This problem does not occur for any other identical laptops for other
users.

It almost seems like the laptop is attempting to contact the domain
resources for something, although I cannot find what. Does anyone
have any thoughts on what may be happening or how to track this down?

Many thanks.

What event log errors do you see?

Are you using offline files?

Does the user shut down before leaving the office, and then restarting at
home (rather than suspend/hibernate) ?

Is the user using any network management/profile software (such as Thinkpad
stuff, etc) ?

\Is the user trying to connect via VPN at login?

I don't create local accounts for domain users, ever - there's no reason
this shouldn't be working right with cached credentials.

 

[Steele]

1. There are no errors at all in the Event Viewer
2. We did try to use offline folders, but have disabled them, because of
problems with them. I believe this problem started sometime after we
disabled them, but not exactly at the same time.
3. It does not make a difference if the laptop is shut down or resumed
4. The laptop is a new HP laptop, and it does have a few utilities running
on it. However, this user's wife has the exact same laptop, running the
exact same utilities, and she is not having any of these problems.
5. The user is not trying to log in to VPN at login

Good questions, any thoughts?

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

1. There are no errors at all in the Event Viewer
2. We did try to use offline folders, but have disabled them, because
of problems with them. I believe this problem started sometime after
we disabled them, but not exactly at the same time.
3. It does not make a difference if the laptop is shut down or resumed
4. The laptop is a new HP laptop, and it does have a few utilities
running on it. However, this user's wife has the exact same laptop,
running the exact same utilities, and she is not having any of these
problems. 5. The user is not trying to log in to VPN at login

Good questions, any thoughts?

I'd try to log in as another user, while on the network - log out to make
sure the credentials get cached - then shut down, disconnect the Ethernet
cable, log in as that user, and see what happens....

Also - make sure all your workstations have the User Profile Hive Cleanup
service installed (free download from MS).

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

In

What event log errors do you see?

Are you using offline files?

Does the user shut down before leaving the office, and then
restarting at home (rather than suspend/hibernate) ?

Is the user using any network management/profile software (such as
Thinkpad stuff, etc) ?

\Is the user trying to connect via VPN at login?

I don't create local accounts for domain users, ever - there's no
reason this shouldn't be working right with cached credentials.