Resolved "Log On To" is missing! HUH?

Hi all,

I have about a dozen PCs here, all running Windows XP SP3. I inherited these from the previous IT guy...

Here is my issue. After pressing "CTRL+ALT+DEL ", I get to the login screen... But "Log On To" is missing as an option even though all these PCs ARE joined to the domain! I can only login locally... I even tried disjoining and rejoining one of the PCs to the domain and that did not fix it.

What gives? Is this some weird local setting in Group Policy?? Damned if I see anything...

Help! Thanks!

Chris

 

Could be Group Policy or some sort of registry manipulation.

 

Any thoughts on how to fix this, anyone? Thanks!

 

These are where I might start
Trusted Domains Do Not Appear in the Available List for Domain Logon or Setting Security Permissions
Resetting computer accounts in Windows
Find that NETLOGON event viewer.
Can they contact the DNS server?

Matt

 

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the reply. I checked both those links and looked into both solutions. No dice. There are NO Netlogon errors in the logs and the FTL file is correct. I've even tried dis-joining and rejoining the PC from the domain and disabling/re-enabling the PC in AD Users & Computers (yes, it DOES show up in there, as do the rest).

Nothing is making the "Log On To" drop-down show up on the PC...

And yes, I can see DNS from the PC and it is functioning properly on the LAN.

:-(

Quite the mystery! Any other thoughts? Thanks!

Chris

 

Do you have a spare HDD you can throw in and install a fresh version of Windows on? See if that works, that would tell you if it is the workstations or on the server side. If it worked, you could try a Repair Reinstallation of Windows on them, but that wouldn't repair the registry (mmm...it might if the installation adds any missing components).

Do they seem to be a standard setup? Could there be some reason they might not be allowed to work on the domain? (For example, they don't have security flaws.)

Matt
PS Is there anything "in between" like a network switch that might be faulty or needs a reboot?

 

Yes. They ARE joined to the domain. That's what's weird. They are joined, yet I don't even have an option to log on to that domain. I even see their names in AD Users & Computers and they ARE enabled there.

 

Hi Matt,

There are switches in between the PCs and the DC. But the switches are all good for sure. The thing is, honestly, I've got somewhere around 20 of these PCs that this is happening on... And unfortunately, rebuilding one of these from scratch won't help because I'm very, very short on time as these have to be operational for the 1st day of school (I'm the IT Manager of this school).

So even if I rebuild one from scratch and that fixes it, I'd have no time to repeat the process on the others. That's why I'm hoping there's just a setting that's screwy or some quick fix I can perform on each PC.

It's the damndest thing! I can see all of 'em in AD. I just don't see the domain as an option to log on to at the PCs themselves. Hell, I don't even SEE the "Log On To" drop-down.

They are all standard XP Pro SP3 builds, too. There's nothing funky about them. They are garden-variety, older HP PCs, early Pentium 4 class...

Chris

 

Hi Arie!

That looks promising. I will try on Monday and let you know. I hope it works. That's something I could do quickly...

Chris

 

IT WORKED!!! THANKS!!! Now I just have to go to each PC and do it... But that's a helluva lot better then rebuilding 'em all. THANKS AGAIN!!!