Adding a Windows XP home client pc to a domain.

The ability to join a domain is one of the specific features of XP Pro. Home will not join a domain...

Sorry!

Try putting it in a Workgroup with a name identical to your domain; then Restart.

I'm not sure if you have to create a Computer at the server, I didn't do the original work on this. There was one before a rebuild of my boss's laptop, so I made his rebuilt laptop's name identical to the one that was in AD. In other words, I'm not sure it will create one automatically.

This has worked in that I can map drives and see printers. To do so once you have joined the domain-named Workgroup - Explore, click on My Network Places, Search, type in the name of the server. It will come up as a line item. Double click it All your icons will come up. Right click on them to Map Network Drive, also for Printers, right click and select Connnect.

However, I'm having a problem with Outlook which worked in the past under this configuration. Launching Outlook gives an error that says 'You must connect to the Exchange Server with your current profile.' I enforced log on when Outlook opens, but it doesn't recognize what I type, not the User's network name, nor any version of his email address. It has partially brought in the structure of his mailbox folders, but they are empty , then goes Offline immediately. Have tried Detect and Repair, no dice. Any ideas on that would be appreciated.

Thanks go to Kyle Johnson of Johnson Computer Services in Grayslake, IL, originator of this tip.