State computers will still be hamstrung today by a network problem that has kept drivers from renewing their expiring licenses, authorities say.

The widespread failure has already plagued the state's 74 DMV offices for five business days. Yet customer service went smoothly across the Roanoke and New River valleys Tuesday: Most chairs were empty and wait times were shorter than 10 minutes.

"I'm impressed," said Billy Dollman, who was looking to renew his wife's car registration in Roanoke.

But the technological nightmare has underscored ongoing problems with the state's $2.3 billion contract with Northrop Grumman Corp. to run state computer services.

Networks for 27 agencies went kaput on Aug. 25, and on Tuesday, problems still affected the Department of Taxation, the state board of elections and the Department of Motor Vehicles, said Marcella Williamson, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, which runs the state computer network.

The issue prompted the Virginia State Police to announce that no enforcement action would be taken on driver's licenses that expired between Aug. 25 and Sept. 30; the DMV to encourage customers to visit the agency's website, www.dmvnow.com, or call (804) 497-7100 before visiting customer service centers this week; and Gov. Bob McDonnell to call for an investigation to determine "the proper course of action to best protect the interests of the commonwealth."

The data meltdown is the most serious trouble the state has had in its problem-plagued outsourcing deal with Northrop Grumman, which signed a 10-year, $2.3 billion contract in 2005 to update the state's computer systems. Complaints about cost overruns and delays triggered a legislative investigation. The contract was extended by three years in April, but McDonnell said the revised pact requires better responsiveness from Northrop Grumman.

The most recent issues have been traced to a failure at VITA's large suburban Richmond computing center, one of several data storage systems in different parts of Virginia.

Sam Abbate, who heads Northrop Grumman's program for its contract with VITA, said his company supports McDonnell's call for an independent analysis.

"We have an obligation to VITA and the agencies and citizens they serve," Abbate said. "We will conduct a root cause analysis, carefully analyze and review the findings, develop lessons learned and make necessary changes."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.