Error results when you run the "gpupdate /force" command on a computer that is running Windows Vista: "User policy could not be updated successfully"

Hotfix Download Available
View and request hotfix downloads

View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

When you run the gpupdate /force command on a computer that is running Windows Vista, the following error results are returned:

Updating Policy...

User policy could not be updated successfully. The following errors  were encountered:

The processing of Group Policy failed. Windows could not resolve the computer name. This could be caused by one of more of the following:
a) Name Resolution failure on the current domain controller.
b) Active Directory Replication Latency (an account created on another domain controller has not replicated to the current domain controller).
Computer Policy update has completed successfully.

To diagnose the failure, review the event log or invoke gpmc.msc to access information about Group Policy results.

Note In these results, the phrase "one of more of the following" incorrectly appears instead of the phrase "one or more of the following."

You experience this problem if the User Group Policy loopback processing mode policy setting is enabled on the computer.

Note For information about how to view this policy setting, see the "More Information" section.

Back to the top

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Vista. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

935791 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791/ ) How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack

Back to the top

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 this specific problem. 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:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

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.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

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, 32-bit versions

Collapse this tableExpand this table

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
Gpapi.dll	6.0.6000.20568	73,728	29-Mar-2007	03:12	x86
Gpsvc.dll	6.0.6000.20568	568,832	29-Mar-2007	03:12	x86

Windows Vista, 64-bit versions

Collapse this tableExpand this table

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
Gpsvc.dll	6.0.6000.20568	712,192	29-Mar-2007	04:24	x64
Gpapi.dll	6.0.6000.20568	83,456	29-Mar-2007	04:24	x64

Back to the top

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do not use the /force option when you run the gpupdate command. Alternatively, you can restart the computer to force Group Policy settings to be applied.

Back to the top

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

Back to the top

MORE INFORMATION

To view the User Group Policy loopback processing mode policy setting in Windows Vista, follow these steps:

Click Start
Collapse this imageExpand this image
, type gpedit.msc in the Start Search box, and then click gpedit in the Programs list.

Collapse this imageExpand this image
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
Under Computer Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand System, and then click Group Policy.
In the details pane, double-click User Group Policy loopback processing mode.

Note These steps describe how to view the User Group Policy loopback processing mode policy setting by using the Local Group Policy Editor in Windows Vista. However, you can enable this policy setting on a domain container or in an organizational unit by using Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).

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

824684 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ ) Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Back to the top