Deployment will not reboot XP workstation at logon prompt if screensaver is running

  • 3755094
  • 29-Oct-2007
  • 27-Apr-2012

Environment

Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Situation

If the workstation is sitting at the login prompt, a screensaver will eventually activate. If this screensaver is running when an agent deployment is sent, the deployment cannot reboot the machine until the screensaver is dismissed.
After the deployment, if the mouse is moved, or a key pressed, the screensaver goes, and "Windows is shutting down" is displayed, before the workstation reboots.

Resolution

This problem is due to a Microsoft limitation: articles 918449 and 938204 athttp://support.microsoft.comdescribe the issue, and suggest either disabling the screensaver, or disabling the"Interactive logon: Do Not require CTRL+ALT+DEL" policy. If this policy is set to disabled, the reboot works.

Additional Information

The problem does not occur if the deployment is set to "Do not notify users of the reboot"
The problem does not occur if the Welcome screen is enabled (this cannot be done if the Novell Client or ZENworks Desktop Management Agent is installed, or if the user needs to login to a domain).
The problem does not occur on W2K
The problem does not occur if the user is already logged in, even if a screen saver is running.