Laptop wont join domain

[cyberspace]

Im trying to connect an older laptop to the domain to copy some large files to the file server as it is being removed from service and replaced, and the files are required.

The process of adding a machine to the domain is usually very simple, but this time it doesnt seem to be working!

I get as far as where you are asked to enter a username/password/domain. This is accepted so the password is verified.

It then says "A computer account has been found, do you wish to use this?"

I say yes, because I have made the account for the laptop as it wouldnt work before that. This surely shows that the laptop CAN communicate with the DC.

I then click OK, and it says that a domain controller could not be contacted.

So far I have:

-Changed netbios name
-fully removed & reinstalled Client for MS Networks and TCP/IP as there were some old DNS entries that I thought may have been causing the problem.
- Tried to connect via VPN connection (NCP)
- flushed laptops DNS cache

In summary, the error log says:

- The domain name might not be a NetBIOS domain name.
- Error was: "DNS Name does not exist"

I have added several PCs to this domain in the past and never had anything other than the normally expected outputs/results...which may suggest a laptop fault!

I am at a bit of a loose end with this one so help would be appreciated.


'When all else fails.......read the manual'

 

[PurdueTNT]

Did you remove the account from the DC then try and re-add the laptop?

 

[cyberspace]

Hi, yes i've tried that twice!

'When all else fails.......read the manual'

 

[cyberspace]

It was down to Zone Alarm firewall needing an entry in the trusted zone, although it didnt alert me to this fact and was by chance that I thought it could be a firewall issue.

Problem solved.

'When all else fails.......read the manual'

 

[almaragni]

Trying to join an NT domain with a XP computer.
Ping and DNS proven to work.

Continue to get the "a domain controller for the domain XYZ cannot be contacted"

But I have triple checked. I can explore it through my computer.

Help message continues to explain this as an "active directory" issue - but that's not in use.

can you provide any hints for resolution?
thank you

 

[cyberspace]

Do you have the appropriate firewall rules etc? Thats what my problem was.

'When all else fails.......read the manual'

 

[almaragni]

can you be more specific on which firewall rules.

on the NT machine i did not find firewall rules - and vrerified that tcp/ip filtering was not being used.

on the XP pc - i looked at the firewall settings and did not see anything that indicated a problem - basically it is out-of-the-box

is there some named service or port that i should focus on? that is not upfront?

thank you

 

[jpm121]

Are you pointing to the domain controller for DNS, or at least to an internal DNS server for your AD? If you are pointing to your ISP's DNS server you could still be seeing the AD domain in Network Neighborhood, and of course you could browse the internet, but your PC wouldn't be able to register with the AD DNS server. I see this a lot.

Shut off the entire XP firewall until you get this figured out, assuming you're in a private LAN IP space that is protected by a firewall or NAT router.

 

[almaragni]

There is no DNS at all. THe NT server is not using AD.
THis is what is frustrating me.