Question : Unable to add XP Clients to new MS Server 2003 Domain

We have installed a brand new 2003 server with XP workstations (WS) and tried to get them on the domain without success as follows, any suggestions would be appreciated.

From System properties we are trying to add a the workstation to our domain, it prompts for user ID and password at which point we enter the domain admin user ID and password (we have also tried another ID with Domain admin rights) after a while it times out with the following error  The following error occurred attempting to join domain XXXXXX the specified server could not perform the requested operation.

The WS has an IP of 192.168.0.101 and is static, 255.255.255.0, GW 192.168.0.1 (Router) DNS is set to 192.168.0.1 (Router)  we had changed DNS to server IP .5 but were unable to get out. Wins is set to the server IP 192.168.0.5

The Server has an IP 192.168.0.5, 255.255.255.0, DG 192.168.0.1 (Router) preffered DNS 192.168.0.5, Wins 192.168.0.5

When we ping from WS to server with IP we get 100% success and when we ping with server name (hccFP001) it resolves the correct IP, we can also ping another WS by name and IP both are successful.

When we reverse this test from the server to workstation (i.e ws-hcc-001) everything comes back ok.

After trying to connect the machines to the domain we go to Active Directory and see the machine names appear with red cross through the PC picture, we have tried right click and reset account and after we press f5 the red cross disappears but we still have no success in adding to domain, we have also tried deleting and putting on domain again without success.

Earlier we did get one WS to accept onto the domain by changing the WS name and adding straight to domain without reboot, this added and after re boot we got the domain showing in the dropdown on log on however it then said domain was not valid when wed entered a valid ID and password, we noticed the WS name had registered as the old (wshcc001) but on the server as the new (ws-hcc-001) so would therefore be out of snyc. Eventually we had to put the WS back to workgroup to try something else.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Answer : Unable to add XP Clients to new MS Server 2003 Domain

Hi Marc,

Just to confirm: the workstation's DNS is set to the IP of the server only, correct?

Now: is the time on the server the same as on the workstation?  They need to be within 5 minutes of each other.

Also: has this update been installed? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948496/  4th item down in symptoms is "unable to join workstations to the domain"

are you trying to join the domain with the full domain name eg: domain.local?

if this is happening for all machines you are trying to add, please download the Windows 2003 SP1 Support tools from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6EC50B78-8BE1-4E81-B3BE-4E7AC4F0912D
Run the installer, open the command line and run dcdiag

This will check your server for proper Domain controler  operation.  Please review the output for any errors, and let me know.

Regards,
Dave