Method for Performing Domain Logons to a Secure Computer Network

A method for performing a domain logon by a user via a client computer within a network environment having a domain controller, wherein said client computer uses Windows® as an operating system, said method comprising:

• providing said network environment with a secure storage area containing user identification information and domain password information corresponding to said user identification information;
• in response to a receipt of a user-entered user identification information and a user-entered domain password by a first module of said Windows® operating system, writing domain password information stored in said secure storage area and said corresponding user identification information to a registry of said Windows® operating system;
• attempting to connect to said domain controller by a second module of said Windows® operating system;
• performing authentication for a domain logon by querying said domain controller for said user identification information and said domain password if a connection to said domain controller by said second module of said Windows® operating system succeeds, and performing authentication for said domain logon based on said received domain password and said domain password information written to said registry if a connection to said domain controller by said second module said Windows® operating system fails;
• and
• removing said domain password information by said first module of said Windows® operating system from said registry after said authentication.

A computer usable medium having a computer program product for performing a domain logon by a user via a client computer within a network environment, wherein said client computer uses Windows® as an operating system, said computer usable medium comprising:

• program code means for providing a secure storage area containing user identification information and domain password information corresponding to user identification information;
• program code means for, in response to a reciept of a user-entered user identification and a user-entered domain password by a first module of a Windows® operating system, writing domain password information stored in said secure storage area and corresponding to said user identification to a registry of said Windows® operating system;
• program code means for performing authentication for domain logon by a second module of said Windows® operating system based on said received domain password and said domain password information written to said registry of said Windows® operating system;
• and
• program code means for removing said domain password information by said first module of said Windows® operating system from said registry of said Windows® operating system after said authentication.

A computer usable medium for performing a domain logon by a user via a client computer within a network environment having a domain controller, wherein said client computer uses Windows® as an operating system, said computer usable medium comprising:

• program code means for providing said network environment with a secure storage area containing user identification information and domain password information corresponding to said user identification information;
• program code means for, in response to a receipt of a user-entered user identification information and a user-entered domain password by a first module of said Windows® operating system, writing domain password information stored in said secure storage area and said corresponding user identification information to a registry of said Windows® operating system;
• program code means for attempting to connect to said domain controller by a second module of said Windows® operating system;
• program code means for performing authentication for a domain logon by querying said domain controller for said user identification information and said domain password if a connection to said domain controller by said second module of said Windows® operating system succeeds, and for performing authentication for said domain logon based on said received domain password and said domain password information written to said registry if a connection to said domain controller by said second module said Windows® operating system fails;
• and
• program code means for removing said domain password information by said first module of said Windows® operating system from said registry after said authentication.