Hi,

I have a problem with a new windows 7 laptop. It logs on to the (2003) domain perfectly on site, then when it is working remotely it will first log on locally fine (using cached credentials), from there we can open up the remote desktop connection and that works. Then when the computer is shut down and restarted the local password is not accepted anymore.

No password changes have happened during any of the sessions, it just refuses to accept the password.

Also it doesn't necessarily do this the first time remote desktop or the VPN is used but within the first few times.

Any ideas anyone?

If a computer is not connected to the domain network the credentials of a domain user that was logged in once are cached locally as you said.
So the domain-user should still be able to login when the computer cannot connect to a domain-controller.
But this only works several times, after a while the client-computer needs to refresh the users information from a dc.
Can't tell exactly how many times a user can login before that happens, but I think it was after 10 logins.

You can check/modify that if you run gpedit.msc then go to:
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policy\Security Options\Interactive Logon:...

Hi NairobiPOD, thanks for that suggestion, I didn't consider that angle.

Do you know whether this is a recent vista/windows 7 thing as I know a lot of xp machines that are fine being away from the domain for months at a time.

I will look in to this...

It's a setting in any WindowsOS that is joined into a domain (2000, Vista, 7, 2003, 2008) except home editions.
But I think this setting of the local policy can be overruled by the Domin-GPO if the value is set there.

Let me know if it was the cause.