How to Fix Group Policy Error 1030 on Windows Server 2019

Problem

Are you getting a Group Policy error 1030 on your Windows Server 2019 VM? This error means that the server cannot communicate with the Domain Controller and apply the Group Policy settings. The detail error mssage extracted from event viewer as below:

Event 1030, GroupPolicy (Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy)
The processing of Group Policy failed. Windows attempted to  retrieve new Group Policy settings for this user or computer. Look in the details tab for error code and description. Windows will automatically retry this operation at the next refresh cycle. Computers joined to the domain must have proper name resolution and network connectivity to a domain controllerer for discovery of new Group Policy objects and settings. An event will be logged when Group Policy is successful.

In this article, you will learn what causes this error and how to fix it.

What Causes Group Policy Error 1030?

Group Policy error 1030 can be caused by various factors, such as:

• Incorrect DNS settings on the server
• Firewall or antivirus blocking the communication between the server and the Domain Controller
• Corrupted or missing files in the SYSVOL folder on the Domain Controller
• Network issues or misconfiguration on the VLAN or the vNIC
• Damaged or outdated Group Policy objects or settings

How to Fix Group Policy Error 1030?

To fix Group Policy error 1030, you need to troubleshoot the possible causes and apply the appropriate solutions. Here are some steps you can follow:

Solution 1: Check the DNS Settings on the Server

The first thing you should do is to verify that the DNS settings on the server are correct. The server should use the Domain Controller as the primary DNS server and have a valid DNS suffix. To check the DNS settings, follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and click on Network and Internet
2. Click on Network and Sharing Center and then click on Change adapter settings
3. Right-click on the network adapter that connects to the Domain Controller and select Properties
4. Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and make sure that the following options are selected:
   • Obtain an IP address automatically
   • Obtain DNS server address automatically
   • Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes
   • Register this connection’s addresses in DNS
5. Click OK to save the changes and close the window
6. Repeat the same steps for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) if applicable
7. Restart the server and try to run gpupdate /force again

Solution 2: Disable the Firewall or Antivirus on the Server

Sometimes, the firewall or antivirus software on the server may block the communication between the server and the Domain Controller. To rule out this possibility, you can temporarily disable the firewall or antivirus on the server and see if the error persists. To disable the firewall, follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and click on System and Security
2. Click on Windows Defender Firewall and then click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off
3. Select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) for both private and public network settings
4. Click OK to save the changes and close the window
5. Restart the server and try to run gpupdate /force again

To disable the antivirus, follow the instructions provided by the antivirus vendor. Make sure to re-enable the firewall and antivirus after troubleshooting.

Solution 3: Check the SYSVOL Folder on the Domain Controller

The SYSVOL folder on the Domain Controller contains the Group Policy files and settings that are replicated to the server. If the SYSVOL folder is corrupted or missing, the server will not be able to apply the Group Policy settings. To check the SYSVOL folder, follow these steps:

1. Log on to the Domain Controller and open the File Explorer
2. Navigate to C:\Windows\SYSVOL\sysvol and check if the folder contains the following subfolders:
   • domain
   • staging
   • staging areas
   • sysvol
3. If any of these subfolders are missing or empty, you need to restore them from a backup or perform a non-authoritative restore of the SYSVOL folder. For more information, refer to this article: How to rebuild the SYSVOL tree and its content in a domain

If the subfolders are present and contain the Group Policy files and settings, you need to verify that they are replicated correctly to the server. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the File Explorer on the server and navigate to \DC\sysvol\domain\Policies
2. Compare the contents of this folder with the C:\Windows\SYSVOL\sysvol\domain\Policies folder on the Domain Controller
3. Make sure that the folder names and the files inside them match exactly
4. If there are any discrepancies, you need to force a replication of the SYSVOL folder. For more information, refer to this article: How to force an authoritative and non-authoritative synchronization for DFSR-replicated SYSVOL (like “D4/D2” for FRS)
5. Restart the server and try to run gpupdate /force again

Solution 4: Check the Network Settings on the VLAN and the vNIC

Another possible cause of Group Policy error 1030 is a network issue or misconfiguration on the VLAN or the vNIC. To check the network settings, follow these steps:

1. Log on to the VMware ESXi host and open the vSphere Client
2. Click on the Hosts and Clusters tab and select the host that runs the server and the Domain Controller
3. Click on the Configure tab and then click on Networking
4. Check the network settings of the VLAN that connects the server and the Domain Controller
5. Make sure that the VLAN ID, the MTU size, the security policy, and the traffic shaping policy are correct and consistent
6. Click on the Virtual switches tab and check the network settings of the vNIC that connects the server and the Domain Controller
7. Make sure that the port group, the VLAN ID, the MTU size, the security policy, and the traffic shaping policy are correct and consistent
8. If you find any errors or inconsistencies, you need to correct them and restart the server and the Domain Controller
9. Try to run gpupdate /force again

Solution 5: Check the Group Policy Objects and Settings

The last thing you should do is to check the Group Policy objects and settings that are applied to the server. Sometimes, the Group Policy objects or settings may be damaged or outdated, causing the error 1030. To check the Group Policy objects and settings, follow these steps:

1. Log on to the Domain Controller and open the Group Policy Management Console
2. Expand the Forest, the Domain, and the Organizational Unit that contains the server
3. Check the Group Policy objects that are linked to the Organizational Unit and the server
4. Make sure that the Group Policy objects are enabled, not disabled or blocked
5. Make sure that the Group Policy objects have the latest version number and are not corrupted
6. Make sure that the Group Policy objects have the correct security filtering and delegation settings
7. Click on the Settings tab and check the Group Policy settings that are applied to the server
8. Make sure that the Group Policy settings are configured correctly and are not conflicting or incompatible
9. If you find any errors or issues, you need to fix them and refresh the Group Policy objects and settings
10. Try to run gpupdate /force again

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions related to Group Policy error 1030:

Question: How can I check the status of the Group Policy processing on the server?

Answer: You can use the gpresult command to check the status of the Group Policy processing on the server. To do this, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type gpresult /r. This will show you the summary of the Group Policy processing, including the computer and user settings, the applied Group Policy objects, and the errors or warnings.

Question: How can I troubleshoot the Group Policy processing on the server?

Answer: You can use the Group Policy Event Viewer to troubleshoot the Group Policy processing on the server. To do this, open the Event Viewer and navigate to Applications and Services Logs\Microsoft\Windows\GroupPolicy\Operational. This will show you the detailed logs of the Group Policy processing, including the start and end time, the source and destination, the result and status, and the errors or warnings.

Question: How can I reset the Group Policy settings on the server?

Answer: You can use the gpupdate /force /sync command to reset the Group Policy settings on the server. To do this, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type gpupdate /force /sync. This will force the server to reapply all the Group Policy settings from the Domain Controller and restart the server.

Summary

Group Policy error 1030 is a common issue that occurs when the server cannot communicate with the Domain Controller and apply the Group Policy settings. To fix this error, you need to troubleshoot the possible causes and apply the appropriate solutions. We hope this article helped you fix Group Policy error 1030 on your Windows Server 2019 VM. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The author and the publisher are not liable for any damages or losses that may result from the use of the information or solutions provided in this article.