My Windows 2000 Server Won't Join a New Windows 2003 Domain Controller

A Windows client computer joins a domain by registering with the domain server. If a Windows 2000 computer is not registering with a Windows 2003 domain server, you must troubleshoot several network issues. A computer that is unable to connect to the domain server can have networking, permission and cable issues, causing it to fail when you attempt to connect it to the domain server.

Instructions

1. Check the network cable to ensure that it is connected to the computer's network card. A cable runs from the router to your computer's network card. If this is disconnected or loose, your computer is unable to join the domain.

2. Verify that you have a connection to the network. You check this by "pinging" the domain server. Click the Windows "Start" button, type "cmd" into the text box and press "Enter." Type "ping domainserver" where "domainserver" is your Windows 2003 server name. This command returns the IP address for the server and a success message, if you have the right configurations on your computer.

3. Verify your DNS server. The DNS server translates friendly domain names with IP addresses. You check this server using the "NSLOOKUP" command. Open the command prompt like you did in Step 2. Type "nslookup domainserver" where "domainserver" is your Windows 2003 server. The command returns the IP address for your server.

4. Verify that your username is a part of the administrator group. You must have administrator privileges to add a computer to the domain. Type "net localgroup administrators" into the command prompt and press "Enter." Your username must be listed.

References

• Petri: Requirements when Joining a Domain