Hi all, I have a Windows 2003 DC (with DNS running) setup with static IP's for 10 XP Pro clients. The clients join the domain just fine and seem to login ok. I have IP forwarding setup for access to an ISP and everyones DNS setting points to the server's IP. My problem is that the workstations lose thier mapped drives to the server (mapped drives in "my computer" show disconnected) on boot. If you click on a mapped drive it will ask you for a login name after a long wait. The login attempt with the sername/password fails saying it already tried that one. This is usally after a cold boot and if you re-boot the workstation once or twice the drives will connect just fine. After they connect, as long as you don't shut the systems down, you never loose the mapped drive connection and everything works great. Where should I start to figure this one out??? FYI- When the workstations can't connect to the mapped drives, you can still ping the server by name or ip. Also, if you browse network places, you see the server listed along with all the other workstations that are on. However, you can't browse the server. Double clicking it prompts you for a username/password and will tell you it already tried and that a DC can't be found to verify username. Also, When you click on a disconnected mapped drive it tells you the server is not accessable or you might not have permission. It also says, multiple connections to the server by the same user are not allowed. During all of this, access to the Internet is fine and never has a problem. Thanks for your thoughts

It sounds like the users are not always logging on to the domain. If you are using fast user switching turn it off and use the classic 3 line logon box. Make sure the domain name is in the bottom box. If this is not the problem, is sounds like there is a connection problem somewhere and the users are not being authenticated by the server.Therefore they are logging in to the local machine and not the domain.

Your client computer Primary DNS should be pointing to your local DNS box then user DNS forwarding from your local box.

Your client computer Primary DNS should be pointing to your local DNS box then setup DNS forwarding from your local box to point to your ISP DNS or just use root hints and host your own DNS server. .