convert from domain to workgroup
I bought a computer from the company where I was on their domain. Now I want to use the computer as a workgroup computer. But I have lots of programs, desktops, my documents, etc that I need to keep using. Is ther a way to switch my computer from a domain login to a workgroup login and keep all of my personal settings?
You can remove the computer from the domain by loging on as the Local Administrator, going to My Computer, right clicking and selecting "Properties"
in the Computer Name tab, select Network ID and then select "This computer is for home use...." and put the computer into a workgroup
You can also use the My Computer, Advanced, User Profiles, Settings options to copy your existing profile to a new account (dont forget to select - Premitted to use and select Everyone) - alternatively you can use the Files and Settings Transfer wizard. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/crawford_november12.mspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457074.aspx
in the Computer Name tab, select Network ID and then select "This computer is for home use...." and put the computer into a workgroup
You can also use the My Computer, Advanced, User Profiles, Settings options to copy your existing profile to a new account (dont forget to select - Premitted to use and select Everyone) - alternatively you can use the Files and Settings Transfer wizard. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/crawford_november12.mspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457074.aspx
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One thing I need to be sure of before I try any of the above ... I have email and encrypted directories that I need to continue to access. Will any of the above cause the system to refuse access (especialy email - I'm using Outlook 2003).
Are you talking about XP file encryption?
Yes you will want to get rid of this encryption as your new account won't be able to access EFS folders since it won't be a domain account.
IF your just talking about PSTs being encrypted then it shouldnt be an issue.
As i said, reboot and copy the contents of the AD account folder into the new account, and reboot and log into the new account (don't leave the domain) this way you can check to see if the new account works, and if it doesn't everything in the old account should still be in there.
Yes you will want to get rid of this encryption as your new account won't be able to access EFS folders since it won't be a domain account.
IF your just talking about PSTs being encrypted then it shouldnt be an issue.
As i said, reboot and copy the contents of the AD account folder into the new account, and reboot and log into the new account (don't leave the domain) this way you can check to see if the new account works, and if it doesn't everything in the old account should still be in there.
ASKER
What about outlook? I had an experience long ago that, when I made a new account, I could not access the outlook files with the new account.
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I'll try to do it as you suggest and see what happens.
ASKER
Umbi, your procedure worked perfectly. Even Outlook works.
There is only one thing to add to this:
10.5 Run your email, Windows Live Messenger, gTalk, etc. You will have to re-enter all of your passwords.
There is only one thing to add to this:
10.5 Run your email, Windows Live Messenger, gTalk, etc. You will have to re-enter all of your passwords.
ASKER
Another item:
10.6 Go to Control Panel/Date & Time. You may need to turn on Internet Time because when on a domine that option is not available (it comes from the domain server). Also I found that it took about 10 minuets for the tab to be available.
10.6 Go to Control Panel/Date & Time. You may need to turn on Internet Time because when on a domine that option is not available (it comes from the domain server). Also I found that it took about 10 minuets for the tab to be available.
ASKER
Another gotcha ... there was a file that had "Access denied". Explorer will not proceed after this error. So I used cmd and got into the destination directory and used xcopy as follows:
xcopy "\Documents and Settings\eddyq"\*.* /e /c /h /r /k /o /x /y >c:\this.txt
Then I examined c:\this.txt and searched for "Access denied" ... it turns out they were all in a temp directory so it didn't matter that they weren't copied.
xcopy "\Documents and Settings\eddyq"\*.* /e /c /h /r /k /o /x /y >c:\this.txt
Then I examined c:\this.txt and searched for "Access denied" ... it turns out they were all in a temp directory so it didn't matter that they weren't copied.
Hi
Glad it all worked out for you, sorry if i missed a few small points but i was doing it all from memory, glad i could be of help.
cheers
Glad it all worked out for you, sorry if i missed a few small points but i was doing it all from memory, glad i could be of help.
cheers
However Please note. By chaning from Domain to Workgroup if you ever need to connect back to the domain
the PC will need to be readded to the Domain