Cached domain logon information (172931)

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SUMMARY

Microsoft Windows NT caches previous users' logon information locally so that they can log on if a logon server is unavailable during later logon attempts.

If a domain controller is unavailable and a user's logon information is cached, the user will be prompted with a dialog that says:

A domain controller for your domain could not be contacted. You have been logged on using cached account information. Changes to your profile since you last logged on may not be available.

With caching disabled, the user is prompted with this message:

The system cannot log you on now because the domain <DOMAIN_NAME> is not available.

MORE INFORMATION

When you logon to Windows NT using cached logon information, if the domain controller is unavailable to validate your account, you cannot access network resources that require domain validation. However, you can access network resources that do not require domain validation.

Through the registry and a resource kit utility (Regkey.exe), you can change the number of previous logon attempts that a server will cache. By default, Windows NT will remember the 10 most recent logon attempts. The valid range of values for this parameter is 0 to 50. A value of 0 turns off logon caching and any value above 50 will only cache 50 logon attempts.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you must back up the registry before you edit it.

Cached logon information is controlled by the following key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Winlogon\ 

   ValueName: CachedLogonsCount
   Data Type: REG_SZ
   Values: 0 - 50

Any changes you make to this key require that you restart the computer for the changes to take effect.