Joining XP pro machine to NT4 domain

[matthew3041]

I have a NT4.0 server that has SP6a and I am tring to joing an XP pro machine to the domain. I have tried multiple machines and they are not able to join the domain. However the serveral machines that have been joined to the domain for quite sometime and are able to logon. After entering my credentials it says the domain is not available or could not be contacted.
I am able to ping the server and map a drive to it. Event viewer does not show me anything interesting.
Any ideas?

 

[GrungeFish]

Might want to make sure that the clients are getting the right WINS servers addresses. When you say you are able to ping the server, are you pinging IP, DNS, NetBIOS?

 

[matthew3041]

I am pinging IP.

 

[zoeythecat]

What version of XP do you have? If it is the home edition you cannot join a domain. If it is the professional edition then make sure you are getting an IP Address ==>IPCONFIG and also make sure you add these computers to server manager.

 

[matthew3041]

This is a pro machine. It is getting an IP address. The comptuer has been added on the server.

 

[zoeythecat]

How is your server handing out IP Addresses (Static or DHCP?). I know this sounds simple but have you rechecked your TCP/IP Settings? Are there other protocols (such as NWLINK) besides TCP/IP that could be causing problems?

 

[matthew3041]

It is using DHCP. TCP/IP is the only protocal I am using. I am also good and licensing.

 

[zoeythecat]

Are you part of the "Domain Admins" group? Try joining the domain entering the "Administrator" username and password.

 

[matthew3041]

administrator
I don't mean to be rude but you are asking me alot of simple questions. I may have missed something simple sometimes we all do. But I am pretty sure that I have a bigger problem.
I believe it is some sort of Sam corruption or something of that nature.

 

[zoeythecat]

Well your not being rude. I am in an environment where we have an NT4 server and WindowsXP Pro workstations and connect with no problems. This is the idea of troubleshooting. You just have to research.

Did you create the computer name as the same name as the username on the network? In other words, if you have a user called ==>zoeythecat< and you name the computer name <zoeythecat< that could cause you problems joining the domain.

Check out this website where several users had these type of problems and what they did to resolve. One suggestions notes about having the same computer name as the username.

check it out. Hope it helps.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20579255.html

 

[matthew3041]

The computername and username are not the same.
Thanks for the website.

 

[zoeythecat]

Your welcome...Guess it didn't help though? One thing I forgot to ask is did you reboot your PDC? Again, I know another simple suggestion (i'm running out of suggestions)but worth a shot. Another suggestion would be to try adding/removing the computer names from Server Manager on your NT Server (If the computer names are there remove them and then Add them back and then try to rejoin the domain. If the computer names are not there try adding them). And as the website mentioned try joining a workgroup first (a different name) then try rejoining the domain. Not to compare scenarios but on occasion I have had some problems connecting new XP computers to the domain and I had to play around in Server Manager removing the computer names or adding them and also replication took some time for the computer name to announce itself to the network. Also if you are adding the computers from an NT Server that happens to be a BDC make sure you &quot;Synchronize with the Primary Domain Controller&quot; to speed up the process.

Good luck....Hope I helped in some small way

 

[silverlizard]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314366