Windows 7 logon is delayed if solid color as the desktop background is set

If you have a computer running windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 and you have set a solid color as the desktop background and the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service is running then the Welcome screen is displayed for 30 seconds during the logon process. This is a big delay considering Windows 7 Quick logon.

This issue does not occur when one or more of the following conditions are true:

• You log on to the computer by using Remote Desktop Connection.
• The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service is stopped or is disabled.
• You set an image file as the desktop background.

Workaround -

Method 1
Set an image file that has solid color as the desktop background.

Method 2

Configure the value of the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry. This value determines the time-out interval of a session before Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 switches between sessions.

To configure the value of the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Search programs and files box, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

3. Double-click the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry.
4. In the Value data box, type 5, and then click OK.
5. On the File menu, click Exit.

I also tried this and indeed my Windows 7 logon process was delayed by few sec.

For more information, Check this link  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/977346  You can also request for the Hotfix from the same link if you are uncomfortable with the workaround. Read the important guidelines before applying Hotfix. Hotfix will be included in subsequent Service pack.