Contents 1 Background 2 Disclaimer and Warnings 3 Setting up SendTo 4 Changing the hosts file 5 Cleaning up 6 Undoing Changes 7 References

[edit] Background

Some notebook users with Windows Vista as the OS in the Case Active Directory (ADS) infrastructure have been exeriencing unexpectedly long boot up times ( a few minutes). Windows Vista clients in in the ADS that are regular desktops have not had this symptom reported. Implenting this solution will disconnect the laptop from the Case ADS infrastructure and authentications to file shares will fail.

To be certain, there will be more issues and root causes to evaluate with the new Windows Vista implementation here at Case. Be sure to report your issues to the Case Help Desk (368-HELP); and add what you find here.

In brief, this problem exists because your computer attempts to connect to internal servers on the Case wired network at login. If you are experiencing this problem you are not on the Case wired network. Basically, Vista does not handle the connection correctly and it takes 2-10 minutes for Vista to time-out the connection and continue with login. In the past we fixed this problem by shutting off wireless switches or plugging in network connections after the windows login. When Vista has no connection at all, the login is fast because it can not reach the internet and try to look for local Case servers. The tutorial below tricks your computer into not looking for the Case servers. Thus far it has worked marvelously to speed login times without any side effects. The overall benefit is faster login times and the ability to leave the wireless switch in the on position at all times. If you would like more techy information, see the references.

[edit] Disclaimer and Warnings

• Please read this entire tutorial before performing any actions.
• If you don't think you can perform any of the steps below, please stop here.
• I can not be held responsible for any damage you may cause.
• Following this tutorial is no guarantee that you will experience any improvement in computer function.
• This tutorial is not sanctioned by IT support so do not ask them about the steps below.

[edit] Setting up SendTo

• To bypass Windows Vista security we need to create a custom SendTo link
• Open Windows Explorer to: \Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
  • <username> in this case would be your Case network ID
• Right-click in the right pane and select: New -> shortcut
• In the next dialog box click Browse and navigate to: Windows\System32\drivers\etc
• Click Ok and in the next dialog box name the shortcut "Update Hosts"
• To make sure this step worked, right-click on any file and make sure your 'Send To' menu contains 'Update Hosts'

[edit] Changing the hosts file

• Download this file to replace your hosts file: hosts
  • Right click on the link and choose 'save target as...'
  • Be sure to save it to a place that you remember
• Find the hosts file you just downloaded
• Right click on the downloaded hosts file and choose Send To -> Update Hosts
• Windows will ask if you would like to replace the target file, choose Copy and Replace

• Choose continue

• Choose continue again at the security prompt

[edit] Cleaning up

• Reboot your computer
• Login and marvel at the speed
• After logging in, you may receive a message about being on a new network please choose the 'Public Terminal' option.
• Navigate to \Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo and delete the shortcut you made earlier (Optional).

[edit] Undoing Changes

• These changes can easily be undone by opening the downloaded hosts file in notepad and deleting all but the lines containing 'localhost'
• Use the SendTo menu to overwrite the current hosts file with the one you just created

[edit] References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name_system
• http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsvista.htm
• http://ruckman.net/tech/2007/06/20/fix-slow-login-on-windows-when-offsite-from-domain/