Classic screwup removing computer from Domain - don't know local p

[Guest]

Ok, I know this is a classic stupid move but the last time I did it, was long
enough ago that I forgot the pain. I was trying to get my work laptop which
is a member of a domain to work on my home network (a Workgroup). So I
not-so-wisely decided to remove the laptop from my work domain "temporarily"
so that I could use it on the workgroup at home. Of course the fisrt thing
that the computer does after being removed from a domian is reboot at which
point my domain password no longer works and I can't recall any of the local
user passwords on my Laptop. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

So anybody have suggestion for how to get the computer back to its prior
Domain member status without logging in or have a sneaky way to recover a
local user password on the machine? I do have a online backup service so
perhaps one of the files out on the backup would be of help? I know this is
probably a mundane question for this more technical group but I would be
forever grateful (at least till the next time I decide to pull this stunt).
BTW, my "work" is a small office where a friend installed Windows Small
Business Server a year ago and I haven't touched it since. There is no "IT
Group" at work to fall back on for this one.

 

[Malke]

Ok, I know this is a classic stupid move but the last time I did it,
was long
enough ago that I forgot the pain. I was trying to get my work laptop
which
is a member of a domain to work on my home network (a Workgroup). So
I not-so-wisely decided to remove the laptop from my work domain
"temporarily"
so that I could use it on the workgroup at home. Of course the fisrt
thing that the computer does after being removed from a domian is
reboot at which point my domain password no longer works and I can't
recall any of the local
user passwords on my Laptop. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

(snip)

Take the laptop to your systems administrator at work and tell them you
are sorry. They will rejoin the laptop to the domain. Then when you
want to use it at home, see the following:

From MVP Lanwench - You don't need to change to a workgroup just to
access resources on it. You shouldn't play with your laptop's network
settings at all. Once you've logged in using your domain account (using
cached credentials), and have an IP address on the home network, you
can map drives, use printers, whatnot, very easily - one way, in a
command line:

net use x: \\computername\sharename /user:computername\username <enter>

MS KB article about the Net Use command - http://tinyurl.com/3bpnj

Also see:

Managing One Windows XP-based Laptop for the Office and Home by MVP
Charlie Russel - http://tinyurl.com/cpy9q

http://winhlp.com/wxdomainworkgroup.htm - MVP Hans-Georg Michna

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks Malke. Unfortunately I am the "sys admin" since it is a very small
company. However, it is good to know that rejoining the domain will get me
back on. I'll look up the process for that when I'm back in the office and
then try your suggestions for connecting to home resources without messing
with Network settings.

DWB

 

[Malke]

Thanks Malke. Unfortunately I am the "sys admin" since it is a very
small
company. However, it is good to know that rejoining the domain will
get me
back on. I'll look up the process for that when I'm back in the
office and then try your suggestions for connecting to home resources
without messing with Network settings.

Well, tell yourself you're sorry then. ;-) Yes, just rejoin the laptop
to the domain and since you're the admin, make sure you've created a
local administrator account and know the password. Documentation is A
Good Thing.

Malke