Error correction: Processing of Group Policy failed due to no network connection to the domain controller

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We all know that the Group Policy engine periodically updates the entire Group Policy architecture every 90 minutes. So, when we configure a GPO setting, we have to wait for that time for the setting to be applied to the clients. Also, clients may need to log out and log back in for the setting to take effect.

If we need to update the GPO architecture immediately after the parameter is applied, we use the gpupdate /force command. Using the /force parameter will immediately update both user-level and computer-level GPOs. In addition, the change applies not only to new or modified GPOs, but also to older GPOs.

However, sometimes running the gpupdate /force command does not update the GPO engine. We recently ran into this problem on our Windows server. The following message was shown when we decided to update the GPO engine:

IT policy could not be updated successfully. The following errors were detected:

Group Policy processing failed due to no network connection to the domain controller. This may be a temporary condition. A success message is generated when the computer is connected to the domain controller and the group policy is being processed successfully. If you do not see a success message for several hours, contact your administrator.

What causes the message “Processing of Group Policy failed due to no network connection to the domain controller”

 

This problem may be temporary and may be caused by one or more of the following:

• Name resolution/network connectivity with the current domain controller ;
• File replication service delay (a file created on another domain controller has not been replicated to the current domain controller);
• The Distributed File System (DFS) client has been disabled.

This error can occur not only when running gpupdate /force manually, but also after running the DCDIAG tools or in the event viewer when a user logs in. In some cases, when this error occurs, you cannot open network shares or DFS domain resources with a “Network path not found” error message.

To resolve the “Group policy processing failed due to no network connection to the domain controller” error, follow these steps



Open the local security policy

1. The first thing to do in this situation is to open the local security policy.
2. To do this, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
3. Then copy and paste the file secpol.MSC and press Enter.

This should open a security policy window, and you can continue from there.

Assigning permissions to users

1. The next step is to open the user rights assignment in the window that just opened.
2. To do this, go to Security Settings and select Local Policies.
3. Below that, click on Assign user rights.
4. Finally, you should double-click Access this computer from the network.

This feature determines which user is allowed to access the network from another computer.

Add a new user or group

1. Finally, you need to add a new user or group in order for everything to work properly again.
2. In the window that appears after you double-click Access this computer from the network, we expect you to click Add a user or group.
3. Make the necessary changes, then click OK and continue.

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