The Welcome screen may be displayed for 30 seconds, and the logon script interacts with me when I try to log on to a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008

This article provides a solution to an issue where the Welcome screen may be displayed for 30 seconds when you log on.

Applies to:   Windows 10 - all editions, Windows Server 2012 R2
Original KB number:   940452

Problem description

On a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, you enabled the "Run logon scripts synchronously" Group Policy. When you tried to log on, the Welcome screen was displayed for 30 seconds. Then, the logon script interacted with you before the logon script process was completed. For example, the script prompted you to confirm a dialog box.

This issue occurs because the logon process runs in session 0. However, the logon script process runs in a different session. A 30-second delay occurs before Windows Vista switches from session 0 to another session. When the logon script interacts with you before the logon script process is complete, you have to wait for the 30-second time-out interval of session 0. To fix this problem, change the time-out interval to less than 30 seconds.

Resolution

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:
322756 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

To resolve this issue, configure the value of the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry. This value determines the time-out interval of a session before Windows Vista switches between sessions.

To configure the value of the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry, follow these steps

  1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
  2. Locate the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.
  3. Double-click the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry.
  4. In the Value data box, type 5, and then click OK.
  5. On the File menu, click Exit.

Steps to reproduce the problem

Note

The "Run logon scripts synchronously" Group Policy setting is in the following location in the Group Policy Management Console:Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Script.

  1. Enable the "Run logon scripts synchronously" Group Policy in the Group Policy Management Console. To do this, follow these steps:

    1. Click Start, type gpedit.msc in the Start Search box, and then click gpedit.msc in the Programs list.

      If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

    2. In the Group Policy Object Editor window, expand User Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand System, and then click Scripts.

    3. In the details pane, double-click Run logon scripts synchronously.

    4. On the Setting tab, click Enabled, and then click OK.

  2. Create a logon script, and then assign the logon script to the local user.

    Note

    The logon script must interact with the user.

  3. Log on to the computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.