Changing from Domain Login to Workgroup back to Domain

[Guest]

Hi,

On my laptop that I use for work, I switched from a domain to a workgroup
(used MSHome) so that I could pass files from the laptop to my desktop via
the network. BTW, this is in my house on a router. I rebooted the laptop
and now I can't log on to windows. I get the sign on screen, but the user
name and password no longer work. I'd gladly move it back to the domain
setting, but since I can't log on....well you get the picture. (Windows XP
Pro)

What can I do to restore my working settings, i.e. domain.

Thanks in advance for help and Merry Christmas!

 

[Bill]

Take your laptop back to work give it to your IT administrator and
apologize, and promise never to do that again.

 

[Guest]

You must be a IT administrator... You must be saying, "you're hosed!"

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

On my laptop that I use for work, I switched from a domain to a workgroup
(used MSHome) so that I could pass files from the laptop to my desktop via
the network. BTW, this is in my house on a router. I rebooted the laptop
and now I can't log on to windows. I get the sign on screen, but the user
name and password no longer work. I'd gladly move it back to the domain
setting, but since I can't log on....well you get the picture. (Windows XP
Pro)

What can I do to restore my working settings, i.e. domain.

Thanks in advance for help and Merry Christmas!

By changing the computer from the domain to a workgroup, you have
destroyed the trust between the domain and the machine. In doing so,
you have also rendered your domain login credentials as invalid. You
need to be physically connected to the domain network, you need to have
administrative privileges to the workstation, and you need to have
administrative privileges on the domain. Then you can add the machine
back on to the domain, after having first deleted the computer's old
domain account (unless you've also renamed the computer).


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

I'm in the same situation as Will, except that the laptop I'm using is one
that I don't want to be a domain any more -- it's never ever plugged into the
system at work, and I'd benefit greatly from reconfiguring it to have access
to the network at home -- choosing printers, etc.

This business of not being able to get past the Log On to Windows screen was
a surprise to me.

What's the best way around it?

 

[Guest]

Bruce,

All that makes perfect sense, but...why won't windows allow for a stand
alone login, just to be able to get to files and settings? Also, once I get
everything restored, isn't there a way to be logged on to the domain and also
have workgroup access to resources such as printers and other computer for
back up?

Thanks for your comments and help.

 

[Joshua D]

Windows will allow that as long as you don't remove it from the domain.On
your logon screen in the box next to where it says 'logon to" where it shows
your domain there is a drop down window. Select it and choose the other
option listed (this computer) that will log you on locally and you will not
be removed from the domain. Just make sure you have a local login account.

 

[Guest]

My problem is that I removed it from the domain -- inadvertently, carelessly
-- and now I'm trying to figure a way to log back in somehow so that I can
fix things up. Thing is, it won't let me log in, because my domain had
changed ... any ideas?

 

[Guest]

I'm in the same boat as Rob M. I don't have the option of the drop down.
Any other ideas?

 

[Kerry Brown]

Try logging on as administartor with no password. This is unlikely to work
but worth a try. If it doesn't work and you want to p&$$ off the network
admin even more then you can download a boot cd to remove the local
administrator password.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

I do not recommend this. You are best to wait until you are hooked up to the
company network and rejoined to the domain. Once you logon as administrator
you can make a local account and copy your old domain profile if needed.

Kerry

 

[Guest]

Can't get anywhere -- the Log On to Windows screen defaults to the username,
and is looking for the password. There are no drop-down options.
administrator, Administrator admin and other combos do nothing. Hitting
ctrl+alt+del twice brings up no alternate admin login screen, even in safe
mode. I've gone into BIOS, and the admin password is already blank. I've
assigned an admin password and tried to log in with that, to no avail.

It looks like logging in as an administrator isn't really an option.

I tried the Norwegian password blanker, but it wouldn't read my hd.

I'd be very happy to boot up in DOS from a cd and physically scout around to
disable the user account password, bypass the login screen or anything else,
if the data on the hd will still be there.

Any ideas?

 

[David Candy]

Your BIOS has nothing to do with it. Wasting your time there. Ask the person who set it up what the password is (and username too as it can be changed or disabled). There was no need to unjoin a domain.

 

[Guest]

I have the username and password -- the point is that they don't work,
because the domain has changed.

I realize now that it was imprudent to unjoin the domain the way I did -- I
was following instructions on a website that proved to be less thorough and
careful than perhaps it should have been.

Nonetheless, I've been sitting here all night with a laptop that won't boot
up Win XP Pro without a username and password, and the username and password
don't work. There are no other login options being offered, no dropdown menu,
no secret admin handshake. I'm looking for a workaround, short of taking this
box across the continent to rejoin a domain to which it would otherwise never
be connected.

Now that I've taken the step of unjoining the domain, is there a step that I
can take to prevent Welcome to Windows from asking me to hit ctrl+alt+del and
enter a no-longer-working username and password, so that I can at least
complete the process of comverting this machine from a domain to a workgroup?

 

[David Candy]

You domain UserID and password are useless. You don't belong to a domain. Use the local UserID and password. Ask your IT dept for it.

 

[David Candy]

They may not tell you it as they may use the same one on each machine meaning all machines will need to be visited by IT to be changed if they tell you the local admin user/password.

You'll need this to both logon and rejoin the Domain (if the Domain lets you). Also attempting to join a domain while not connected to a domain may stuff up your domain. You need to talk to IT before you stuff your laptop up further OR stuff up the domain.

 

[Kerry Brown]

If you will never be joining the domain again you have two options. Format
the hard drive and reinstall Windows and programs or clear the local
administrator password. If the "Offline NT Password & Registry Editor" tool
didn't work then google for more. Read the screens very carefully in the
"Offline NT Password & Registry Editor" tool. They are confusing. To blank
the password you actually have to enter a special character. I can't
remember what it is off the top of my head but it is on the screen.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=xp+lost+administrator+password&btnG=Search&meta=

Kerry

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm in the same situation as Will, except that the laptop I'm using is one
that I don't want to be a domain any more -- it's never ever plugged into the
system at work, and I'd benefit greatly from reconfiguring it to have access
to the network at home -- choosing printers, etc.

This business of not being able to get past the Log On to Windows screen was
a surprise to me.

What's the best way around it?

Log in using the built-in Administrator account and create a new, local
user account for your daily use.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Bruce,

All that makes perfect sense, but...why won't windows allow for a stand
alone login, just to be able to get to files and settings?

It does, but the local account needs to have already been created. At
this point, you can still log in using the built-in Administrator account.

Also, once I get
everything restored, isn't there a way to be logged on to the domain and also
have workgroup access to resources such as printers and other computer for
back up?

Certainly. There was never a need to remove the computer from the
domain in the first place.




--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

OK -- it was surprisingly easy once I logged in as 'administrator' --
Name: administrator
Password: <blank>

Thanks!