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XP cannot join NT domain

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9 replies

by ruinedtower

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When trying to add an XP Pro PC to our NT 4.0 domain across a router, I receive the "cannot find domain controller" error. Yet I can browse to the DC! On the network local to the DC, the same PC (I carried it down the street) will join. I have a valid LMHOSTS, a valid admin account, valid DNS, enabled netBIOS over TCP/IP. I even installed a WINS server, and directed the PC there. Microsoft assures us we do not need an Active Directory server to join XP to the the NT domain. Is that right? What else can I try?

9 replies

by rabbit_runner

Hi, we had a similar problem with a win2k pro box at a remote site and trying to connect to an NT4 domain controler. The problem is with DNS and WINS. Win2k is attempting to find the server using DNS, but the NT4 domain is using WINS. This is thesource of the problem. Unfortunately, we did not keep the remote office long enough to find an easy solution. we finally had to create another domain at the remote site, and then create a trust relationship between the two sites. This worked for usand our needs.

The problem is the way the two systems attempt to resolve names and IP addresses.

by rabbit_runner

My answer will not give you the solution to your problem, but it will begin to point you in the direction to find your solution. I wish you the best of luck. Let me know if you come across a way around this issue.

Thanks.

Michael Robert

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