Logon Attempt Does Not Work on Computers with Windows NT Newly Installed (223997)

SYMPTOMS

NOTE: The hotfix described in this article must be applied to Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, or Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition during the update to Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 or Service Pack 5. This hotfix is not compatible with computers running an earlier service pack.

The following problem may occur when you are updating to a service pack immediately after you initially install Windows NT. This problem may also occur during the next logon attempt to a computer if its account is deleted from and then added to the domain again.

When you attempt to log on to a computer on which you just installed Windows NT, the following error message may be displayed:

The system cannot log you on because the system's computer account in it's primary domain is missing or the password on that account is incorrect.

CAUSE

This problem is caused by Netlogon.dll on the client computer. The update created to correct the problem must be installed on the client computer.

When a Windows NT-based computer joins a domain during installation or a computer is added to the domain (or is re-added), a machine account is created on the primary domain controller (PDC). If the PDC is running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 or later, the new account is not replicated to backup domain controllers (BDCs) until the next scheduled Netlogon replication interval. Prior to Service Pack 4, the PDC would replicate all machine account updates immediately. When a domain user logs on or an auto-logon to the domain is performed, the client computer establishes a session with either the PDC or one of the BDCs. If a BDC does not have the computer account in its database, it will return "User Unknown" response to the client computer logon request. Upon receiving this response, the client computer stops processing the logon request and displays the above message.

NOTE: The default Netlogon replication pulse is five minutes, but is configurable. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

142692 Minimizing WAN Traffic

RESOLUTION

Windows NT Server or Workstation 4.0

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date      Time     Size      File name      Platform
   ----------------------------------------------------
   04/28/99  05:41p   188,176   Netlogon.dll   x86
   04/27/99  05:38p   310,544   Netlogon.dll   Alpha

NOTE: There is also a version of this hotfix that replaces the Netlogon.dll file that is included with Windows NT 4.0. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

243643 Logon Attempt Does Not Work After New Windows NT Installation

You must use both updates to fully correct the problem described in this article. The changes in both versions allow the client computer to continue processing logon responses until it receives a valid response or until a time-out occurs. The time-out period is related to several factors, but is typically three to five seconds. The error message is displayed if a time-out occurs and a valid logon response has not been received by the client.

This hotfix is typically applied to systems during the update to either Service Pack 4 or Service Pack 5. If you need to install this hotfix after one of these service packs is already installed, follow the "Automatic Installation" instructions in the Readme.txt file included with the hotfix.

When you install the hotfix at the same time as a service pack, you need to modify the folder containing the service pack files. In this case, you must use over-the-network installations or installations that pre-copy the files to the local hard disk. You cannot use the hotfix when installing the service pack from a standard Windows NT CD-ROM or Windows NT service pack CD-ROM.

To install the hotfix along with the service pack update, use the following steps:

In the appropriate platform service pack installation folder (I386 or Alpha), create a subfolder called "Hotfix."
Copy the following files from this update into the Hotfix folder:
- Hotfix.exe
- Hotfix.inf
- Netlogon.dll
Run Update.exe to install the service pack. Update.exe automatically calls Hotfix.exe when it is finished to install the updated Netlogon.dll file.

NOTE: When you use this method, an uninstallation folder is not created for this hotfix.

WORKAROUND

You can use one of the following methods to work around this problem:

Add all computer accounts prior to installing Windows NT on the computers, making sure that the entire domain is synchronized before continuing with installation.
Use an LMHOST file that has a #PRE #DOM entry with the primary domain controller's IP address specified.

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack