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I have a user who has an HP Elitebook laptop, when he is connected to the network via ethernet and the computer locks itself, he is unable to unlock the machine. Control+Alt+Delete does nothing, he has to hard reboot the machine.

But, and there is always a but! When he is connected to a WIFI source and his computer locks, he can unlock it perfectly fine.

Other than the nic driver (which I’ve updated) has anyone come across this issue before?

6 Spice ups
2

what happens if it locks, then you pull the ethernet cable out?

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Does it happen on any other style laptop, or does any other employee have the same one? Wondering if it’s a hardware bug. Maybe contact HP support.

4

Have you ruled out the power control options?

5

Please check the power options and make sure that his computer isn’t set to hibernate. (Not calling your user dumb or anything, but I’ve seen people do this)

1 Spice up
6

sounds like it could be a faulty connection on the motherboard in the NIC. Have you tried a USB to Ethernet adapter? How old is this laptop, if its still under warranty, I’d swap it out.

1 Spice up
7

Is he actually looking at a “locked” screen that does nothing or is it a blank screensaver that locks the computer? Like ggoudy pointed out, it could be the power options making the computer hibernate/turning off hard disks.

The internet has nothing to do with locking and unlocking the computer. I’m certain it has to do with the power options of being on battery VS plugged in.

8

Is it a Domain User?
If the cached passwords are out of sync between the network and the laptop, wouldn’t that create an issue somewhat like this?
I have never seen that before, but maybe the password cache is corrupt.
Check it under users in the control panel.

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Unfortunately, the laptop belongs to my CFO so it is very hard to get it away from him. I will try all these suggestions, but on the few I have tried:

Galen: I will try this as soon as I can.

Jimmy: It doesn’t happen to any other laptop or computer that we have here on the domain.

RAM: I will try this out.

Kevin/ggoudy/starg33ker: I have ruled out the power options, I have set all to do nothing, the only thing that does anything is a Group Policy that locks the computer after 10 minutes. He is looking at the standard ‘locked’ screen because it has done it to me before, i only mentioned the network because that’s the only time he has an ethernet cord plugged in.

Dave: Yes it is a domain user. I will check the cached passwords.

Thanks for the quick suggestions! I will try all of these as soon as I can and report my findings. Have a great Thanksgiving (if you celebrate) or just have a great Thursday (if you don’t)!

10

Thinking out loud here…is DHCP enabled on your AP to assign IPs outside the IP range of your domain controller? Have you noticed that users can do things on wireless that they cannot do hardwired? Wonder if that could be the culprit.

1 Spice up
11

If ethernet pops the PC and WiFi does nothing, hmm… you may be on to something.

I still think its a hardware issue personally.

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Are you able to remote onto the PC and access it from yours?

13

easy solution instead of plugging in via Ethernet cable why not set up an access point in his office and have him connect via wifi all the time

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This seems to have been the reason.