Microsoft KB Archive/940452

Knowledge Base

The Welcome screen may be displayed for 30 seconds, and the logon script interacts with you when you try to log on to a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008

Article ID: 940452

Article Last Modified on 8/1/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
• Microsoft Windows Code Name “Longhorn”

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Beta Information

This article discusses a beta release of a Microsoft product. The information in this article is provided as-is and is subject to change without notice.

No formal product support is available from Microsoft for this beta product. For information about how to obtain support for a beta release, see the documentation that is included with the beta product files, or check the Web location where you downloaded the release.

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

On a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, you enable the "Run logon scripts synchronously" Group Policy. When you try to log on, the Welcome screen may be displayed for 30 seconds. Then, the logon script interacts with you before the logon script process continues. For example, the script prompts you to confirm a dialog box.

Note The "Run logon scripts synchronously" Group Policy setting is in the following location in the Group Policy Management Console:

Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Logonff

CAUSE

This issue occurs because the logon process runs in session 0. However, the logon script process runs in a different session. A 30-second delay occurs before Windows Vista switches from session 0 to another session. When the logon script interacts with you before the logon script process continues, you have to wait for the 30-second time-out interval of session 0.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, configure the value of the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry. This value determines the time-out interval of a session before Windows Vista switches between sessions.

To configure the value of the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry, follow these steps.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

3. Double-click the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry.
4. In the Value data box, type 5, and then click OK.
5. On the File menu, click Exit.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to reproduce the problem

1. Enable the "Run logon scripts synchronously" Group Policy in the Group Policy Management Console. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, type gpedit.msc in the Start Search box, and then click gpedit.msc in the Programs list.
      
      If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
   2. In the Group Policy Object Editor window, expand User Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand System, expand Logon, and then click Logonff.
   3. In the details pane, double-click Run logon scripts synchronously.
   4. On the Setting tab, click Enabled, and then click OK.
2. Create a logon script, and then assign the logon script to the local user.
   
   Note The logon script must interact with the user.
3. Log on to the computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.

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