Topic: New computer won't join domain

[allank]

This system has about 12 computers on a network with a Windows Server 2003 domain controller.  When adding a new computer to the domain, I get an error that the domain controller could not be found.  I've checked DNS (even copied exact info from an existing computer).  I am adding it to the domain by changing the ID (right-click My Computer -> Computer Name -> Network ID).

The same thing happened when I tried to add a Seagate RAID 1 NAS to the domain - I got a NET_ERROR no domain controller found to log on.  When adding the NAS, you get to enter the IP address of the DC, so, I'm guessing that DNS does not come into play?

I'm not a server expert, so maybe there's something in the setup on the server that I haven't done correctly?  I'd appreciate it of you could walk me through the steps required to add a new device /computer to a domain.

Cheers,
Allan

[Kevin]

I'm no server guru but here are the things you can check:

1. Did you already try adding it to the domain? You mentioned Network ID and I don't recall that option especially if it's Windows XP. What version of Windows is this new computer using? I would think it's XP or higher. Otherwise, if it's 2000 or NT, see the links below on how to get them added to the domain:

http://www.visualwin.com/AD-2000/
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/nt4joind.html

You should get a prompt asking you for the administrator login to join to that domain.

2. Can you ping the DNS IP address from this station?

3. Check the TCP/IP Properties for one of the stations that is connected to the domain and working. Go into the Advanced settings and then the DNS tab. On the bottom section where it should say Append these DNS suffixes, see if they have any entry listed there. Otherwise, it's usually the first radio button that's selected to append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes.

Check the server settings to see how it's setup. There are many different setups from my understanding. Confirm on the server end that the information is correct. I don't all the terminology but I have seen some of our servers that have multiple IPs assigned to them...might be because they are clustered nodes, but I don't know if that affects the information you input on the client end. It should be basically identical in terms of the DNS. I think only the primary IP is different.

[allank]

First off, in one case, the domain server is NT and the computer being added is a W7 machine.  In the other case, the server is a Win Server 2003 and the computer being added is a W7.  In both cases I tried to add the computer to the domain, got the pop-up asking for Administrator credentials, and then got the error message to the effect that no domain controller could be found.  And this is in spite of the fact that, in both cases, the W7 computers can see the DC on the network.

I even added the username of the W7 to the Win Server 2003 Active Directory - still no go.

I'll check your item 3. above - I'm not sure if I did when I tried...

[Kevin]

Any update on this? One other thing you can check is to see if NetBIOS is enabled. Go into the TCP/IP Properties on the Windows 7 client station and go to Advanced options. Under the WINS tab, you should see the NetBIOS settings.

[allank]

Sorry about the dealy in responding - this issue is now moot.  They decided to keep some of the computers on a workgroup, so this Win 7 one no longer needs to join the domain.

Thanks for your help.