Xp Pro Wont Join Domain

Hi Group,

Im having a bit of a problem with a network, its running 5 workstations, all XP and 1 server runing server 2003 SBS

there is a remote site with two workstations connected via an allways open VPN, the remaining workstations are on the same LAN as the DC.

the tunnel is working perfectley as i have managed to join the domain from my laptop on the remote site. However when i try and get two XP workstations to join the domain i get the following

about 5 mins after entering my U/N and password to join the domain it fails and comes back with;

the following error occoured attempting to join the domain "xxxxxxx"

the service did not respond to the start or control request in a timley fashion

The clients pickup DNS information from the server, and they can also resolve the DC's netbios and FQDN

when i drop to a shell and type nbtstat -c i can see the domain listed along with the DC

as i said before i can join the domain in the same location on my laptop so i presume its a problem with the two clients. there both running SP2 will all the latest updates and patches.

I have disabled all firewalls and prot blocking I have renewed IP details, removed all account information on the DC, changed the name of the client and a few more things i cant remember right now ;o)

what am i overlooking, im sure this cant be as complicated as im making it ?!?!

TIA

Pete

Wow, sounds like you have done just about everything I would try.

Have you brought one of the two PCs back to the office with the DC and tried to join the domain?

Anything logged in the Event Log on the workstation, and/or on the DC when you try this?

There are a couple of ways to join the domain with SBS. The first way being froma web browser by going to :
http://yourservername/connectcomputer
and that will take you thur the network setup wizard
the second way is just the old fashioned way the the System Applet by chagning froma workgroup to a domain and then you will get a prompt for a qualified user to join the machine to the domain.

You mihgt try unjoing the two toruble machines form the domain add them to a bogus workgroup and then try rejoing them again. I know it osunds strange but somehow the SID gets corrupted when tied to a bad netbios name and this always works for me.

Wow,

Reading this thread I have a remote site with this same issue!!

I was able to get the remote PC to join the domain after 20 minutes of waiting!!

Trying to log in took 20 minutes also (username) (password) (domain)

My office was able to get into the PC and shadow it without any issue!

My co-worker went onsite with his lap-top and got on without any issue.

He brought the PC back in here, and it goes right on!!!

It was suggested to me that the patch cable that I am using at the remote site may be bad! It was new, right out of the pack (6 ft or so).

It seems in my past life this same issue happened to me and the resolution WAS that cable.

I hate to go back onsite over a patch cable!

This PC is a new IBM, nothing special.

Please advise!!!

Bill M

Try removing the IBM from the AD and then putting it back in. Just a thought.

Thanks for the advise guys, i have just come back to work after the Christmas break.

Ill get on this once my eyes are in focous again n ill let you know what i come up with.

Trust everyone had a nice break ?

Regards
Pete

OK Tried a little more with this problem.

today i have rebuilt the machine, reset the BIOS.

re installed the NIC drivers and tried to join the domain accross the VPN. no go... it will not join.

I bring the machine back to the office and it WILL join my domain here. it just fails to join a domain over a VPN.

After speaking will Dell they told me about there 10/100/1k NIC adaptors failing and causing problems, so i added a small un managed switch in between the machine and Cisco switch, still no joy. (didnt expect it to work really)

i am flat out of ideas.

jmwillis, thanks for the post, intresting information here, my laptop on the remote site will open the page no problems and from that i can join the domain. the freshley rebuilt dell optiplex times out looking for the page. i have reset all the internet security settings, disabled the firewall again, checked the server to make sure its not in the service deny list of its firewall..

the mistery continues :confused:

After many hours of pissing about, we have solved the problem..

i had to DOWNGRADE the PC's BIOS by 1 rev.

Thanks all for your help

Hi,

I've got exactly the same problem with the new Dell D420 and D620 laptops. However, the problem persist even I downgraded the bios.

Which brand of computer are you using? How could the downgrade could fix this problem?

Any help are appreciated.

KM

To add more information,

I have no problem when I connect the network using wireless interface. But the problem occurs, when I am joining the domain using ethernet interface.

KM.