Logging on to domain problem

[slr22]

We are having some issues logging into to the domain ever since we switched over to Windows 2000 server. Different operating systems have different issues. Here are the problems.....

Our windows 98 machines sometimes have problems logging into the domain, however if the users just continue to try to log on to their computer and restart their computer a few times, eventually they can get on. Sometimes in the morning they don't have any problems logging on to the domain. Sometimes they don't have a problem logging on to their computer, however during the work day they will just all of a sudden lose connection to our network and can't get into their email or our shared drives that are located on the server. When they can't get into their email and shared drives, we can ping the server and it replies back, so there is communication between the two machines. This problem is not all the time, it happens sporadically.

With the Windows 2000 and XP machines they only have problems when we restart our server. We then have to go in and remove them from the domain and restart the computer and re-add them to the domain and then they are fine again. Does anyone know what might be causing this kind of problem? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Sandy

 

[GiaBetiu]

Because there are a lot of issues involved, I can just to tell you few tips:
1. Check DNS configuration. W2k and XP will need a corect DNS server
2. Are you using DHCP? Is it configured properly? WIn9x clients doesn't know to update themslef the IP address in the DNS zone, so you have to configure your DHCP for doing this (and that's why I recomand you to have DHCP)
3. for W9x will be great ( i would say it is a must) to install a WINS server. Then they will be able to log on without problems. Otherwise they depend on the browser servie on one of your computers.
4. for helping a little more w9x stations, install the Win2k DS client also on them

Gia Betiu
m.betiu@chello.nl
Computer Eng. CNE 4, CNE 5, soon MCSE2k