Windows XP may not wait for the network to be fully available before a user can log on. This behavior, if applicable, results in much quicker logons. Windows XP does NOT wait for the network to be fully available, unless:
- The user has a roaming profile.
- The user has a redirected home directory.
- The user has a logon script applied.
- The user does not have a cached credential on this computer.
- The Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon group policy at Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / System / Logon is enabled.
This default Windows XP behavior can result in it taking 2 logons to effect changes to user objects, because group policy is applied in the background once the user is logged on. Software installation, Folder Redirection, changes to a roaming profile path, home directory path, or adding a logon script all may require 2 logons. If you wish to insure the application of the above changes with a single logon, Enable the Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon group policy.
NOTE: If the Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon is Not Configured, it can be enabled by setting the SyncForegroundPolicy Value Name, a REG_DWORD data type, to 1 at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon".
