Cannot connect Win XP Pro to NT 4.0 domain server

[Guest]

"The trust relationship between this workstation and the primary domain
failed" message shows on the NT 4 server if I double click on the computer's
name, even though it is listed as a domain member.

On the XP side, when I attempt to log on with my account authenticated by
the domain server, I get the message "Windows cannot connect to the domain,
either because the domain controller is down or otherwise unavailable, or
because your computer account was not found. Please try again later. If the
problem persists, see your network administrator." I AM the network
administrator. Looking in the mirror doesn't help! Neither has two days of
attempting to find a knowledge base article that gives helpful information.

The error message does not contain a unique identifier that allows a person
to research the cause and resolution to the problem. As far as I can
determine, I do not have f-secure software in the computers.

There is nothing in the NT 4.0 server's help files when a person tries to
find "trust relationship". Both the XP workstation and the NT4.0 server will
reside in the same domain.

Can someone please provide or point to an understandable procedure for doing
what should be a simple task? To wit, connect a new Windows XP Pro
workstation to an existing Win NT 4.0 domain.

 

[Steven Henson]

XP Pro works with NT4 Domains - but it can be difficult to get it authenticated
initially. I presume you are using XP Pro? XP Home cannot join a Domain. XP per
se cannot, AFAIK, enter into a trust relationship with an NT4 Domain.

Some of the tricks I have gone through to get XP Pro to join an NT4 Domain (no
specific order):-

1) Use Server Manager to Add the workstation to the Domain (sometimes works)
2) On the workstation put a #pre #dom:xxxx entry into the lmhosts file to get
the initial connection (located in system32\drivers\etc folder - note the file
must be named lmhosts with no extension). Reboot - then go into System
Properties -> Computer Name tab and run the Change option to get the workstation
into the Domain.
3) As a last resort - install the NetBEUI protocol - see
http://www.theeldergeek.com/install_netbeui_in_xp.htm

Others might have better suggestions.

Hope this helps.




Steven