Timeout on loggin in to a Windows Domain

Michael Martin 6 Reputation points
2021-06-30T18:08:37.513+00:00

Here's a really weird problem. I have a small company that is still running Windows SBS 2011 with about 19 computer connected to a domain. They are probably going to retire the server but Covid has changed plans for now.

One of the workstations (Windows 10 Pro) was intermittently having problems connecting to the domain controller. After a good deal of troubleshooting (more on this below) what I found was this. When starting or restarting the workstation, if I logged in immediately to Windows, everything was fine. If I restarted and left it on the Lock screen (or windows login screen) for a few minutes, it failed to connect to the domain and the network shares did not work. It does start up but if I try to access the network shares I get: "P:\ is not accessible. The system cannot contact a domain controller to service the authentication request. Please try again later" (also when I try accessing files from the UNC address). If I restart and immediately log in, its fine. I can log out and leave it for an extended period of time and its fine. Only when I shut down & start or restart and leave it on the login screen for a few minutes, do I have this problem. There is no hardware firewall that restricts LAN traffic, only a Google Wi-Fi that has NAT-translation firewall from outside the LAN.

Some of the things I have done that haven't helped are:

  • Reset the Network
  • Reset the firewall to default
  • Turn off the firewall (Windows Defender) entirely
  • SFC.exe /scannow
  • Run the following command: dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
  • Removed the computer from the domain and rejoined
  • ran an in-place Windows reinstall (a windows upgrade, not a "reset this PC") I will do a full reset only if I have to, as it takes me almost 6 hours to reinstall all software packages we use.
  • switched from the ethernet adapter to the Wifi adapter
  • Tried using different user accounts on this workstation (including the domain administrator account)
Windows Small Business Server
Windows Small Business Server
A family of Microsoft server products with messaging and collaboration, security-enhanced internet access, protected data storage, reliable printing, faxing, and the ability to run line-of-business applications. Replaced by Windows Server Essentials.
40 questions
Windows Server
Windows Server
A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
12,525 questions
Windows 10 Network
Windows 10 Network
Windows 10: A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.Network: A group of devices that communicate either wirelessly or via a physical connection.
2,302 questions

8 answers

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  1. Dave Patrick 426.4K Reputation points MVP
    2021-07-06T15:17:46.147+00:00

    A domain controller should not be DHCP assigned. Always set a static ip address for domain controller. Also add the server's own static ip address listed for DNS, then do ipconfig /flushdns, ipconfig /registerdns, restart the netlogon service.

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

  2. Dave Patrick 426.4K Reputation points MVP
    2021-07-06T15:25:57.58+00:00

    You should not need IPv6 on your network. If your router is handing out IPv6 this could be problematic if not configured correctly. Simplest solution here is to turn off the IPv6 DHCP server in the router.

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

  3. Dave Patrick 426.4K Reputation points MVP
    2021-07-13T12:46:37.317+00:00

    Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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