A roaming profile user experiences a long delay during the logon or logoff process of a Windows Vista-based or a Windows Server 2008-based client computer in a WAN environment

On a network, you configure the Slow network connection time-out for user profiles Group Policy setting to define a slow connection for roaming user profiles. However, when a user is working in a wide area network (WAN) environment, the setting may fail. Therefore, the roaming profile user may experience a long delay during the logon or logoff process on a Windows Vista-based or a Windows Server 2008-based client computer.

This problem occurs because the slow link detection algorithm mistakes the high-bandwidth WAN for a fast link network. Therefore, the Group Policy setting fails.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Important Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only one of these products may be listed on the �Hotfix Request� page. To request the hotfix package that applies to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, just select the product that is listed on the page.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix on a Windows Vista-based computer, you must have Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
No prerequisites are required for Windows Server 2008-based computers.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

Registry information

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
After you install this hotfix, you must make the following changes to the registry to set the value of the FastWanLink registry entry to 0x1:

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start search box, and then press ENTER.
   
   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Type FastWanLink, and then press ENTER.
5. Right-click FastWanLink, and then click Modify.
6. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box, type 0x1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.
   
   Note If you want to disable this registry entry, type 0x0.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

The .manifest files and the .mum files that are installed in each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista" section. These files and their associated .cat (security catalog) files are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The .cat files are signed with a Microsoft digital signature. The attributes of these security files are not listed.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008