"The network path cannot be found."

[Chuck Lavin]

Hi --

I am trying to join a Vista Business SP2 PC to an SBS 2003 R2 SP2 domain, so
far without success.

Every attempt I have made fails toward the end with an error stating that
"the network path cannot be found."

I have tried adding the computer by changing the PC's domain affiliation,
through the PC's Network ID Wizard, and by adding the PC to the SBS box and
then sending the PC to the /connectcomputer page -- all fail. The
/connectcomputer approach just gives me a vague error about contacting my
network administrator.

The PC's network settings -- retrieved IP address and netmask, DNS and
gateway addresses -- are correct. DHCP, DNS and gateway services are all
being provided by the SBS box. The computer is being allowed access to the
Internet.

I do get asked every time to enter the user ID and password of an
administrator in order to join the domain. I have verified that if I enter
bogus information here, I get nowhere fast. When I enter proper credentials,
the computer goes through the rest of the motions as if it were adding
itself to the domain. But after a wait that's a bit longer than it should
be, I finally get the "network path cannot be found" error.

I followed the steps in the Technet article "Joining a Windows Vista Wired
Client to a Domain"
(http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727031.aspx) but it didn't
help get past this problem.

AFAIK, the SBS box has all necessary patches and updates related to Windows
Vista and Windows 7. When I ran the SBS box through Windows Update, it found
nothing pertinent to install.

How do I get this PC joined to this domain?

Thanks,
CL

 

[housetrained]

what firewall are you using?
have you tried turning it off?

 

[John John - MVP]

Sounds like a NetBIOS problem, enable the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service
on the client.

John