Logging on to a domain with a wireless PC

Snapshot · 27 Sep 2007 at 07:35

It seems to me that the first time a user logs on to a domain with a wireless laptop they need to use a wired connection in order to get their roaming profile loaded and cached as the wireless connection doesn't become active until after the logon to the laptop. In a commercial organisation this isn't normally a problem as laptops are usually assigned to one person but in a school it's a pain as any brat can grab any laptop. Am I right or is there a way round this?

Slinwagh · 27 Sep 2007 at 08:51

On the Intel Centrino chipsets with the 3945ABG wireless adapters there is an option to keep the wirless connection alive when a user logs offs, it also reconnects after a restart too.

csmager · 27 Sep 2007 at 09:27

Has always worked for me in Vista & XP without any special tools. Just have to wait a few seconds after bootup before logging in, as the wireless won't be active immediately.

Sp00n · 27 Sep 2007 at 14:59

Roaming profiles

But yes, it should be fine as i have done it a handful of times before on multiple wi-fi cards.

K.C. Leblanc · 27 Sep 2007 at 19:59

Make sure your using XP's zero wireless and not the software that comes with the card. Quite a few manufacturer's software have the problem you mentioned (if you ever need to use wireless on a Win 2k clients don't buy a shed load of wireless cards till you've tested one).

Roaming profiles on wireless will be slow. I do know of one school (who use RM) that use their laptops as thin clients off a terminal server, becuase they couldn't get the logon times quick enough.

Snapshot · 27 Sep 2007 at 20:50

K.C. Leblanc said:
Make sure your using XP's zero wireless and not the software that comes with the card. Quite a few manufacturer's software have the problem you mentioned.

Ah, that might be the problem. I'm pretty sure I've used the Intel ProSet software rather than zero wireless.

K.C. Leblanc said:
Roaming profiles on wireless will be slow. I do know of one school (who use RM) that use their laptops as thin clients off a terminal server, becuase they couldn't get the logon times quick enough.

It'll encourage them to keep their profiles small.

Thanks to the rest of you who have commented too. Looks like I've got another trip to London to sort it out.

brendy · 27 Sep 2007 at 23:13

Xp and vista 32/64 on laptops are working 100% for me, ive been playing with all 3 in work recently. I can log onto our domain as any user and its fine.

Sp00n · 27 Sep 2007 at 23:31

No matter how much you encourage them they will always try and sneak a load of mp3's in there then winge that logging on is slow!

bloody users never learn

Snapshot · 28 Sep 2007 at 07:24

I shall be spoiling all their fun by setting up Censornet as the internet gateway as soon as a suitable PC is available. I've already upset them by blocking MSN Messenger.

JonnyT · 28 Sep 2007 at 14:05

The latest versions of PROset are actually VERY good for Wireless users on a domain, as they have functionality called Pre-Logon Connect which establishes the connection before attempting to load your profile, which as the OP has found is an issue with Roaming Profiles. The only downside is that in order to create a pre-logon connect wireless profile you have to create an Administrative Profile in PROset which is not easily editable by the end users (although this can also be regarded as being a good thing too!)

I'd recommend making sure you have the latest version of the Intel drivers and PROset installed (11.2) and download the user guide for PROset as it is VERY powerful when fully utilised - far superior to the integral Wireless Zero Config service IMHO