My computer thinks it is part of a domain

[Guest]

OK. I admit I probably created this problem fiddling with settings a while
back. I'm running two PCs on a wireless Linksys network (WRT54G). Both
machines are running WinXP Pro. One thinks it is assigned to WORKGROUP
47Donna-WG and the other thinks it is assigned to DOMAIN 47Donna-WG. The PCs
network nicely and share data fairly well among themselves.
I recently bought a laptop for a little mobility around the home. I am able
to share files between the laptop and the machine that thinks it is a member
of the WORKGROUP, but am not able to share files between the laptop and the
DOMAIN assigned machine. Unfortunately, the Domain assigned machine is the
primary and contains most of the files (e-mail, Quicken, etc.) that I would
like to share with the laptop.
I have tried to use the Computer Name tab on the System Properties to
reassign the computer to the workgroup, but continues to report as a DOMAIN
on Network Diagnostics.
Anybody have advice or recommendation (this side of format and reinstall
Windows) on how to resolve the problem?

John Moody

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

OK. I admit I probably created this problem fiddling with settings a while
back. I'm running two PCs on a wireless Linksys network (WRT54G). Both
machines are running WinXP Pro. One thinks it is assigned to WORKGROUP
47Donna-WG and the other thinks it is assigned to DOMAIN 47Donna-WG. The PCs
network nicely and share data fairly well among themselves.
I recently bought a laptop for a little mobility around the home. I am able
to share files between the laptop and the machine that thinks it is a member
of the WORKGROUP, but am not able to share files between the laptop and the
DOMAIN assigned machine. Unfortunately, the Domain assigned machine is the
primary and contains most of the files (e-mail, Quicken, etc.) that I would
like to share with the laptop.
I have tried to use the Computer Name tab on the System Properties to
reassign the computer to the workgroup, but continues to report as a DOMAIN
on Network Diagnostics.
Anybody have advice or recommendation (this side of format and reinstall
Windows) on how to resolve the problem?

John Moody

The output from "Network Diagnostics" is misleading, because it always
uses the work "Domain". On my computer, it says "Domain = MSHOME"
when, in fact, I have a workgroup.

Your primary computer can't be assigned to a domain. A domain
requires a computer running a server operating system, like Windows
Server 2003. Something else is causing the problems between the new
computer and the primary computer

Look in My Network Places on the new computer. If it doesn't show any
shared disks or folders belonging to the primary computer, click "Add
a network place" and see if you can add them manually.

Try accessing the primary computer by typing its name in the Start |
Run box on the new computer. For example, if the primary computer is
named "primary", type:

\\primary

If none of that solves the problem, please reply to this message in
the news group (not by E-mail) with more information to help other
people understand the problem.

How are you trying to access the primary computer from the new one?
What exactly happens when you do it? If there's an error message,
what does it say?
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

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