What should be the first action a System Administrator takes to troubleshoot login error messages?

The first action a System Administrator should take to troubleshoot login error messages is to check the user's login history related list. This step is essential because it provides a comprehensive overview of the user's previous login attempts, including timestamps, success or failure outcomes, and the source IP address. By examining this history, the administrator can quickly determine if the issue is related to incorrect credentials, account lockout, or other factors affecting the login process.

Accessing the login history allows the administrator to ascertain patterns or specific anomalies that might be contributing to the login issue. For instance, a series of failed attempts could indicate that the user is entering the wrong password, whereas a lockout might suggest that security policies are preventing access due to multiple unsuccessful tries. Having this information readily available helps streamline the troubleshooting process before delving into more complex investigations like examining audit trails or debug logs.