"Domain Not Available". How to deal with it

[RetrogradePAK]

i have a windows xp laptop (SP2) and it part of an Nt4.0 domain. I usually take the laptop on travel and sometimes i get the "domain not available" while trying to logon. The only way to fix this is to return to office and log the computer while connected on LAN.

Is there any way to fix the thing if it happens while i am on travel!!!. Remeber it does not happen always!!!

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

Suggestion:

If you can't log in with a cached account (network account). Create a local account that you can use to logon locally (when network not available). If the local account has local admin rights then you should be able to access the profile of the network user account (in documents and settings).

Jesse Hamrick

http://www.powershellpro.com

 

[RetrogradePAK]

thanks but i am already doing this, isn't there anyway i can login with the domain account or like i mentioned earlier the only way is to bring the laptop back to the office, connect it to LAN and login

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

Remotely, if you use RAS in your environment, you can use dial-up to authenticate to your domain.

You might be able to use a VPN as well, but I'm not 100% sure how this would work as I have not used a VPN since implementing Citrix a few years back...

Jesse Hamrick

http://www.powershellpro.com

 

[RetrogradePAK]

neither there is any RAS nor VPN. What do do????

 

[bchizary]

is there something clearing out cached profiles? what 'should' happen is you log on the nt network once, your profile is then cached onto the laptop, and you can sign on the laptop using that profile anytime after that, and your not actually signing on the domain, your using the cached profile. If the cached directory (will be named the same as your username and located in the documents and settings folder on c drive) is deleted you cant sign on again.

 

[RetrogradePAK]

the issue usually happens when i visit some other office or place with different NT domain and i get connected to their LAN either via wireless or wired and when i attempt to logon...BOOM!!! there comes the damn "domain not available" and the only way to fix this is to come back to my office, connect my laptop on LAN and then login

 

[WhoKilledKenny]

When you visit a Place with a different domain, are they configuring your laptop as a member of their domain? This would null an void your computer membership with any other domain (including your own domain). Your cached accounts would no longer work as well...

Jesse Hamrick

http://www.powershellpro.com

 

[RetrogradePAK]

no i login with cached crdentials but if i happen to be connect to their LAN, then for some reason my cached logon does not work anymore

 

[Electro121]

I'm assuming when you say "connect to their network" you are referring to simply connecting with a lan cable, not changing any setup or credentials on your laptop in order to connect? I believe you do this simply for network connectivity to get out to the internet?

Also, try logging on to your laptop FIRST before plugging in to their network. You will then be logged on with the locally cached profile on your laptop and then connect the lan cable afterwards for the network connectivity. Before you logoff, try disconnecting the cable first, then logoff.

I'm wondering if you are getting a policy pushed down to your laptop via the other networks that may be causing some grief but not sure.

Try the above - not a fix, but a possible workaround.

 

[RetrogradePAK]

thanks for the tip, i am already doing the cable unplig thing but u know sometimes you forget - also there is no policy being pushed

the thing that worries me that it does not happen to all people and the problem is more like a random thing!

 

[spivy66]

Guys,
I have a major problem, MY PDC went down and i am creating a new one using win nt sp6a. Everytime i try to connect to the domain it says it's not avalible. I even left the domain and try to sign back in...no good..plz help i'm up shi@ creek!@