Problem joining new Domain

[joeaustin]

I just switched companies and my notebook computer was working fine on my old companies domain and now I want to join the domain of my new company. I have XP professional. So if I right click on My Computer and open up Properties and go to the Computer Name tab I should be able to access the "Network ID" and "Change" buttons right? I can't, they are both grayed out and there is a message below them that reads...

"Note: The identification of the computer cannot be changed because: - Networking is not installed or is not properly configured."

Which is obviously incorrect because all the networking settings were working perfectly just the week before at my old job.

I believe it is throught this Computer Name tab that
I should be able to join a workgroup and leave a domain and then hopefully join a different one, but I am unable to alter anything. I can ping the server by IP and it can ping me by IP as well and I can surf the internet, I just can't see anything like printers on the new network.

I also tried logging on as administrator to my local machine and I went to Control Panel and then User Accounts and tried as administrator to just add a new user to the new domain name. When I try to do this, it does not matter what new user or domain names I choose or what access type I choose for the new user, it won't let me add a new user to any domain other than my old one. It says:

The user could not be added because the following error has occurred: The trust relationship between this workstation and the primary domain failed.

Does anyone know what is wrong.

 

[tlcscousin]

Have you tried logging on locally and taking the computer out of the domain back to workgroup. Reboot and then join the new domain?

 

[joeaustin]

Thank you for your suggestion,

Yes... when I log on locally as administrator and go to the Computer Name tab I have the same problem. The buttons are greyed out and I have the same note:

"Note: The identification of the computer cannot be changed because: - Networking is not installed or is not properly configured."

This stops me from doing as you suggest.

I would appreciate any more suggestions.

 

[debonairOne]

Seems to me like a policy is in effect here... How much trouble would it be to contact the support department at your last place of employment and have them remove the domain for you... In order to add your machine to a new domain, you must have an id on that domain with permissions to add new computers to the domain... when you attach your machine to the LAN (new domain), is the new domain listed in the drop down choices...?

You stated that you were able to log on locally as administrator.... stupid question, but are we sure that that the admin account was not renamed to something else...? Do you have any other accounts with admin level privs...? Have we tried uninstalling network support and reinstalling? debonairOne

"I look in the mirror and what do I see..."

 

[joeaustin]

Thank you for your email!

Unfortunately getting back with the old company IT group is not an option. The administrator account I'm certain is a true administrator account.

The new domain is not listed in the drop down choices when I attach to the new company LAN.

I have a user account which I gave administrator priviliges to but it is part of the old company domain. Only way to log on to that account is to specify old company domain.

I have not tried to uninstall network support and reinstalling it... how do I do that? Do I really need to be that drastic?

I find it odd that this isn't a common question. In high tech aren't there lots of folks changing jobs these days running into this problem?

 

[meastaugh1]

Is it an NT or 2K domain?

 

[joeaustin]

I'll check and reply tomorrow... you guys are great for showing an interest in someone else's problem.. what a great country.

 

[CBradshaw]

Just a thought....I had this problem on 2 laptops myself. There was a bit of a problem when they tried to change the Network ID....one woouldnt do it initially, but then following the local admin routine worked....the other one just greyed out everythign relating to windows networking. As yours did.

All I did was to setup a new Administrator Account in XP...logon with that locally the next time you boot. Remove the NIC adapter, and then reinstall it. Reboot and you should have the options set again.

Hope this helps

 

[debonairOne]

Any local admin account will have the ability to remove the pc from any former domains... just add it to a workgroup and voila... home free... then you can attach it to the new network and log on using a local admin account... once done, just join the new domain... I am hoping this works for you... there is nothing more frustrating than beating your head against an insurmountable problem... debonairOne

"I look in the mirror and what do I see..."

 

[joeaustin]

Ok... how do you remove the computer from former domains if you can't select anything on the Computer Name Tab? I just set up a brand new administrator account and logged on to it locally, then I removed the network adapter 10/100 NIC and reinstalled it... same problem..

I'm lost... any more suggestions?

 

[debonairOne]

Did you change it from Domain to Workgroup first? Reboot and then add the new domain... debonairOne

"I look in the mirror and what do I see..."

 

[joeaustin]

I can't change it from Domain to Workgroup if the "Network ID" and "Change" buttons on the Computer Name tag are grayed out.

That is the whole problem...

Those two buttons seem to be unaccessable to me... I refer you back to the message I receive each time I go to the Computer Name tab either as a user or an administrator.. it always says:

"Note: The identification of the computer cannot be changed because: - Networking is not installed or is not properly configured."

If I could take action resulting in this message going away, I am certain that the "Network ID" and "Change" buttons would go active and I could then follow your instructions but until I get those two buttons active I am stuck...

 

[wolluf]

How about trying a repair reinstall? (should leave data & program settings as is)

 

[debonairOne]

Okay, then uninstalling and reinstalling network support should resolve your issue... this is not a drastic action as all it requires is a few clicks of the mouse... enter the network connections applet in the control panel, select the icon for your LAN connection and delete it, this does not uninstall the hardware... Reboot and then recreate the LAN connection by going back to the same location and selecting create a new connection if you know your settings, or you can use the home/small office connection wizard... once this is done, you should no longer have the inaccessible button issue and should be able to change the domain settings... you can also change that in the registry... but I will reserve that post if this one doesn't work... debonairOne

"I look in the mirror and what do I see..."

 

[hbaecker]

I had a similar problem with a company laptop that logged onto a Domain across the country. I could not change anything, the "Network ID" and "Change" options were both grayed out. I tried for a couple of days and nothing worked until I forgot to plug in the NIC. I know that it sounds stupid and just too simple to work but give it a try. I logged on as the administrator and I was able to change to a workgroup, it was then that I noticed I wasn’t connected to the LAN, I rebooted and I was able to join my local domain.

 

[joeaustin]

Thanks again for everyone's help... unplugging the NIC is not an option because its built into the notebook. I'll try deleting the LAN connection and see if that works.. When I get the solution I'll definitely share the info.

 

[hbaecker]

Try booting the computer without the NIC connected to the LAN as if you were traveling, then logon locally as the administrator and see if the change options are available.

 

[joeaustin]

ah... got it