Windows Fast User Switching disabled after installing the Novell client

(Last modified: 29Sep2005)

This document (10066298) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

symptom

Windows Fast User Switching disabled after installing the Novell client

fact

Windows XP

Novell client for Windows XP

symptom

If you are using Windows XP Remote Desktop and you install Novell Client for Windows XP, the Fast User Switching and Welcome Screen are replaced by the Novell Client welcome screen and login.

cause

The Novell client will replace the GINA and also be in the provider list for Windows XP.

fix

This is working as designed. As soon as you enable "real networking" for Windows XP, the Fast User Switch is disabled. This is also true if you place the Workstation in a Windows NT Domain or Active Directory environment.  Please see the following Microsoft articles about the change in behavior when the XP workstation is connected to an NT Domain or AD environment:

KB 279765 ( http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279765 ) Title:  "How to Use the Fast User Switching Feature in Windows XP"  (Quote from document:  "However, Fast User Switching is not available on Windows XP Professional-based computers that are a part of a domain network.")

KB 280758 ( http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;280758 ) Title:  "Fast User Switching option is not available"  (Quote from document:  "Cause: This issue can occur because the Fast User Switching option is disabled when a computer joins a domain.")

KB 294739 ( http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294739) Title:  "A Discussion About the Availability of the Fast User Switching Feature"  (See the section on "Windows XP Professional" and the section on "Third-Party Graphical Identification and Authentication Products".)

note

In a networked environment, each individual user has their own access rights and privileges.  If user Joe logs into the workstation and into the network, he will have rights to his home directory and other directories that other uses may not have access to.  If user Fred logs into the network, he may have unique file system rights as well.  It would be unusual to have both users logged in at the same time trying to use the same computer for their own personal work.  In a case where network access is needed by both employees at the same time, a generic user account can be created on the network and the two individuals can share that account.  An argument could be made that you could have one network account (a generic account to give you access to NetWare), but individual Windows XP Professional accounts.  If the user needs to access NetWare resources, they could just switch users and get what they need, and then jump back into their local workstation account.  That sounds good, but Microsoft proper does not allow fast user switching when workstations are connected to a domain or AD environment.  And from the Microsoft articles given above, it does not appear that they give an option to third-party developers to hook into the fast user switching functionaility.  Again, this is working as designed.  There are no plans to make the Novell Client function with Windows XP's user fast switching.

document

Document Title: Windows Fast User Switching disabled after installing the Novell client
Document ID: 10066298
Solution ID: NOVL64369
Creation Date: 21Nov2001
Modified Date: 29Sep2005
Novell Product Class:Netware Client

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