Lion 7.2, LDAP, Binding, Search & Mapping settings not sticking

Hi All Am binding to an LDAP server (WIN) using 10.7.2 but cannot get the search and mapping settings to stick. I have been doing this with Leopard and Snow for the past two years successfully and nothing has changed on the back end BUT with Lion the results are variable. Sometimes I can bind (green light,dot) ok but no search and mapping settings stick. Other times it's no binding (red dot) and no search and mapping settings. Apple documentation is a little vague on some of this but the moaning on the net isn't. I can't find any thread with a solution/workaround or meaningful discourse. i'm running out of time and ideas at this stage of the game and 3 images to finish before semester starts. Any help or pointing in the eighth direction would be appreciated. Regards Tristan