Error joining domain

[sglawrie]

Hello there,

Having problems with a PC and any pointers would really be appreciated.

I have removed a Windows 2k Professional PC from the domain and cannot get it back on! The PC has been in use for a couple of years and its hasn't had too many problems.

I get the following error message when trying to rejoin the domain "The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted."

No other PC in the domain is having these problems so I don't think it is a DNS problem as Microsoft suggest.

I can also use network neighborhood and use UNC commands to browse the network so there's nothing physically wrong with the network cables, NIC etc.

At the end of the day I can always reinstall Windows on this PC however the user is not keen on this idea and I would prefer another option.

Thanks

 

[chriseubank]

Give it a few minutes to pick up the broadcasts from the domain master browser. Sometimes that causes this problem

 

[sglawrie]

Thanks for your reply Chris.

I've been up and down to this PC a few times over the course of the day changing it from a static IP address (as it requires access in and out of the firewall) to dhcp so plenty of time for it to pick up broadcasts. Still not playing

thanks though.

 

[Davetoo]

Try entering the FQDN of the domain.

I'm Certifiable, not certified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[chriseubank]

....or the ip address!

 

[Lucifudge]

yeah, fqdn

not: DUDESDOMAIN
try: DUDESDOMAIN.DUDE.NET

 

[muthabored]

sglawrie:

I'm curious to know if you removed the PC from the domain on the actually server/PDC (removed the physical computer account) or just "unjoined" the PC from the domain via Windows 2000 (made it part of a Workgroup)

 

[sglawrie]

Thanks for help.

I actually unjoined the PC from the domain making it part of a workgroup, when trying to join it back to the domain and it didn't have the effect I wished for I then removed the PC account from the AD.

Cheers

 

[Batmaniac]

I´m unsure about this, but in the w2k I can´t put IP on a domains name field, right? I mean, I just tried and it said something like - it´s not a valid parameter -

sglawrie,
Is your DC setup configured to accept a new computer in the domain? I know it sounds dumb, but worth a try.

check the policys


Rodrigo Ferreira
MCSE wannabe

 

[iainwatt]

If I enjoined the computer from the domain I would goto a domain controler and delete the computer account and wait for replication.

Then re-add after about 15 mins.

Either that or change the computer name, which would add a new computer account on the domain.

If you're not sure how do delete a computer account give us a shout and I'll let you know!

Cheers

Iain

 

[iainwatt]

enjoined should read as unjoined!!!

 

[sglawrie]

Unfortunately the user in question couldn't wait so, earlier on, I had to rebuild the PC (same computer name and IP settings as before). Computer account had been deleted the day before by me on DC and after building new PC, the new account is there so this seems ok.
FQDN - made no difference - did try that before the rebuild and the time between unjoing and removing computer account from domain then attempting to rejoin was around 1/2 a day. (I'm only on a little site with 200 odd PCs).

I appreciate all your pointers, unfortunately the need to get a working PC back on the desk outweighed solving this mystery. Thanks.

 

[tsuji]

Hello sqlawrie,

Maybe a step-by-step account would give you inspiration of what goes wrong. Check out this ms article:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/broadbandnetworking/10_concept_switch_workgroups_domains.mspx

regards - tsuji