How to join a Windows computer to the NT Domain

Microsoft Windows(r) computers have a system called "Domain Security", which allows central management of a user's passwords and permissions. When a computer is joined to the domain, the server can also automatically create some local settings, such as server drive mappings, every time you log in.

Prerequisites

1. Network Permissions

   First of all you need to have permission to join a computer to the domain. By default this privilege is restricted, but if you are a member of the domain_joiners group, you have the required permissions. If not, please ask us to either add you, or to take remote control and authorise it for you.

2. Local Permissions

   You will need to have administrator privileges on the local computer as well.

3. Network Cable

   Because wireless networking generally only works when a user is logged in, the process on joining a domain is best done using a hard-wired Ethernet connection

4. Registry Settings

   If the computer is a Windows 7 or Windows 8 computer, a small registry change is needed to allow the computer to join a SAMBA domain. Samba is the open source project that allows Apple Mac and Linux computers (and other devices as well) to share files with Windows computers. You can apply this registry change by clicking on this link (http://wiki.samba.org/index.php/Windows7) and allowing it to make changes. NB This Link should be to Samba's own site.

Procedure

Windows XP

1. Right-Click on "My Computer" and click on Properties
2. On the Computer Name tab, click Change, and then enter the NT domain name. You can either find this out by looking on another computer that is already joined, or ask us.
3. Enter the user name and password of a the user with domain joining privileges.
4. 8If all went ok you'll get a welcome message.
5. 8Sometimes, due to propagation delays, the first time you try it will think it has failed, even though it has worked. If it fails the first time, wait 30sec and try again, and it should work. If not, call us.
6. Reboot when asked, and then log in with your network user name and password.

Note: Home Edition is not designed to join domains; only workgroups. To join domains, use XP Professional version or above.

Windows 7

1. Right-Click on "My Computer" and click on Properties
2. On the Computer Name tab, click Change, and then enter the NT domain name. You can either find this out by looking on another computer that is already joined, or ask us.
3. Enter the user name and password of a the user with domain joining privileges.
   • If all went ok you'll get a welcome message.
   • Sometimes, due to propagation delays, the first time you try it will think it has failed, even though it has worked. If it fails the first time, wait 30sec and try again, and it should work. If not, call us.
4. Reboot when asked, and then log in with your network user name and password.

Note: Home Edition is not designed to join domains; only workgroups. To join domains, use XP Professional version or above.