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Make XP Home Domain-Aware

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11 replies

by rindi1 1 view

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Hi, Does anyone out there know of a hack to make Windows XP Home aware of a windows server domain? I'm sure there must be a way to add a windows XP Home PC to a Windows server domain, so that policies etc will apply to such a PC as well. I don't want to have to upgrade every Home PC to Professional.

11 replies

by p.j.hutchison

You cannot, its called 'Home' edition for a good reason. The vast majority of Home users do not use Domains. They are usally single PCs on their own.

So, to MS have create Windows XP Pro for professional setups ie Domains. Looks like you'll have to upgrade them all...sorry.

by rindi1

I'm still hoping to find a crack somewhere. I tend to believe XP Home is a "crippled" version of XP Pro, and there must be a way to "uncripple" it, maybe also with a foreign software.

by willcomp

See this link. Haven't tried it, but seems feasible.

http://vowe.net/archives/001639.html

There is also some info on Experts Exchange if you wish to pay to join.

Dalton

by rindi1

I had tried that program (X-Setup pro), but you can't actually join the Domain with it, it just helps you logon to shares etc, which you can do with xp home anyway. Also, I'm not prepared to pay to join Experts Exchange, I'll have to wait until I have accumulated enough points there before I can really actively use that site.

by ryfry9

I use pro, not home, but i would look straight to the network setup wizzard for help.

by techierob

In my experience with windows XP home on a corporate network I have come to these following conclusions:

1. It should NEVER be part of a corporate network. Local users and accounts are managed by the individual PC and not the domain controller. This means that the stock user (administrator) can over ride any setting put in place; and even gain complete and unrestricted access to the server (got hacked??)
2. No setting or tweak that I have found overrides these local setings.

by rindi1

Sh*t. I'll still leave the question open, maybe there is some bright guy who has a solution...

by geofflilley

Haven't tried this one myself, but:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315273

Straight from the source...you guys mentioned Experts-Exchange...I'm grandfathered in as a member...that's the suggestion they gave...that or the following (direct quote):

You can't add XP Home machines to domains. You should be able to give access to this machine to other users though. Configure the workgroup name to be the same name as the domain, share the printer and allow full control to Everyone. Enable the builtin Guest account.

That was a person trying to give share rights to a printer...HTH

by rindi1

I don't just want to be able to connect to shares, I want to be a full domain member with all the security etc.
Meanwhile i've just been upgraded to expert in expert-exchange, so I will be doing some digging, there as well. Thanks anyway.

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