Problem

I can no longer log in to my Microsoft Windows server.  I receive the following error message:

“There are currently no logon servers available to service the logon request.”

Cause

Your server is joined to a domain and uses domain accounts i.e. Active Directory to process logon requests.

When the server(s) running Active Directory are not available you can no longer log in.

As Active Directory is a distributed database the idea is to have more than 1 node in your WAN/LAN running Active Directory.

Small businesses however often only have a single server running Active Directory.

When you promote a server to a domain controller, the local administrator account is disabled for security purposes so that only domain accounts can be used.

If you haven’t manually created a non-domain local administrator account you will not be able to login.

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Symptoms

Shortly after starting Windows the Synaptics touchpad on my laptop stops working.

Cause #1

You accidentally pressed a key to lock the touchpad.  When Windows starts it loads a Hotkeys driver (= special function keys typically found on laptops) that allow you to change the brightness of the laptop screen, or the audio volume of the speakers.  There is also a hotkey to lock the touchpad.  When Windows starts the touchpad will initially work for a few seconds or so, until the Hotkey driver software is loaded into memory and locks the touchpad.

Solution #1

Press F5 to lock/unlock the touchpad.

Alternatively press simultaneously Fn+F5 or Ctrl+F5 (or Fn + F9 or Ctrl+F9 on some models).

Cause #2

The touchpad is stuck in scroll mode.

Solution #2

Swipe on the touchpad from right to left. This should bring up a sidebar on the right hand side of the screen and show the time and date in Windows 8.  The touchpad should now work properly again.

Symptoms

My computer is extremely slow.  The computer locks up after if has completely started up.  The Start Menu does not open and launching programs does not work.  There is a spinning cursor when I move my mouse pointer over the Taskbar.

Cause

There are a number of possible causes.   There are a few things you can chek that will improve performance.

Solution

You may want to check the following:

• (!) Disable Superfetch and Windows Search services ( [Win]+[R] + “services.msc” )
• Remove and re-install Antivirus software.  Windows 8/10 comes with Microsoft Defender.
• Recently installed software.
• Automatic update settings.  You may want to disable installing recommended updates and install security updates only (by user prompt only rather than automatic).
• Run a hard disk health check: chkdsk.exe /f /r
• Check your internet browser add-ons
• Check Task Scheduler and automatic startup of programs using the Autoruns utility.