Undoing A Computer That Was On A Domain

[ginky4]

I have a Dell Dimension 4600 that was once a work station that was on a domain with an administrator and several different users. It looks like it was running off a Windows 2003 Server edition with terminal services. When it boots up it looks for the domain password which I have to enter each time. How would I go about removing all of this so that I can make this just a basic home computer?

[Tuttle]

The simple way is to go into Control Panel | System | Computer Name | Change and put it back on a workgroup. You'll be able to do that as a local administrator provided the machine can't find a domain controller when you do.

Note that if the PC had any settings applied through Group Policy while on the domain, those will remain. If it's been managed to that level, a reinstall is often the easiest way to make sure everything's gone. Alternatively, you can pick through gpedit.msc and override anything which affects you.

[ginky4]

Ok, I went into System and then Computer name. This computer was set up under a Domain name. I tried to change it back to Workgroup but it doesn't look like I have the credentials to do this even though I am logged on as the administrator.

I opened up gpedit.msc but I am not sure where to go in here to change the permissions for the administrator account. It does look like this machine must have had some settings applied through Group Policy. I am going to recommend a format and reinstall for this person since I have no clue what kinds of things were setup when this computer was on a domain.

[ginky4]

I was finally able to get off of the Domain Name and back to a workgroup.