I installed a Windows 2000 Server using AD and setting the server as a DHCP, DNS, and WINS provider in mixed mode, and making all users members of DHCP, Domain, Pre-Windows 2000, Wins, and Users. IP and IPX/SPX compatible protocols were installed on the file server.
The user environment was Windows 98se using DHCP for connectivity. The client also had an application requiring IPX/SPX. As long as only TCP/IP was installed, all was well with the world. After IPX/SPX was installed, a very frequent error occured: Invalid user name or password when logging on to domain.
In the world of Netware using NDS, this error occurs if NT4 has lost the everyone group or it has become corrupted. Unfortunately, this is a Windows 2000 Server, andthe group everyone is assumed, can not be created or destroyed.
The windows 98se workstations also have Office 97 Pro (SP1) with SP2b applied. Inconsistant logons keep occuring, sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t. I performed a fresh w98se install on a P4 1600 workstation, using both protocols. Success at last, NO. As soon as I installed Office 97 Pro, i immediatly lost connectivity. This is not to say that i lost the ability to ping by friendly name, or browse the internet, only that I could not log on to the domain. As soon as I unloaded Office 97 Pro, I was able to logon again.
Does anyone know what evil lurks in the heart of IPX/SPX and/or Office 97 Pro?
One more thing, all patches, drivers, and updates or in place both on the server, and on the workstations. The problem exists whether SP2 or SP3 is installed on the server.