Slow Network Default Profile Operation (186434)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you have a policy enabled to automatically detect slow network connections, a slow network connection prompts you to either download your profile or to use the locally cached copy. By default, after 30 seconds, it will use your roaming profile if you do not explicitly choose to use the locally cached copy.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or 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

In Service Pack 4, there is an additional policy under Default Computer\Windows NT User Profiles called Slow Network Default Profile Operation. With this, you have the ability to choose which option the user will be given as a default: either download the roaming profile, or use the local cached copy. The service pack is required for the policy file to fix the problem. The hotfix is needed only if your are applying the fix by manually editing the registry.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency

To enable this option through the registry instead of using a policy:

Start Regdt32 and locate the following path:
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT \CurrentVersion\Winlog

NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.
Create a new value called SlowLinkProfileDefault as type REG_DWORD.
Assign it the value of 1 if you want to download the roaming profile, Assign it a value of 0 if you want to use the local profile.