gzembow
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Problem changing XPpro login from Domain to Workgroup?
The company I recently started working for needed one of the PCs moved from an office using a domain server to another office running a workgroup.
At the new office I logged into the PC using the username and password for the domain and then went to My Computer properties and Computer Name and changed the settings from the Domain to the new workgroup.
I restarted and then the PC still asked for the password for the domain and I tried it - that wouldn't work and I couldn't change to the workgroup. It won't log into the domain and won't access the workgroup.
What do I do to get it to join the workgroup and stop trying to login to the domain?
This question is urgent, I need to solve this first thing Monday morning (California time).
At the new office I logged into the PC using the username and password for the domain and then went to My Computer properties and Computer Name and changed the settings from the Domain to the new workgroup.
I restarted and then the PC still asked for the password for the domain and I tried it - that wouldn't work and I couldn't change to the workgroup. It won't log into the domain and won't access the workgroup.
What do I do to get it to join the workgroup and stop trying to login to the domain?
This question is urgent, I need to solve this first thing Monday morning (California time).
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I'm not at the PC for another 8-10 hours - but I recall that I tried to change the the drop down box where the Domain name appears to the Workgroup, but the workgroup name was not there.
I have the user name and password for the domain and tried that and it couldn't log in because it is no longer connected to the network with the domain server. It is on the workgroup network which is in another building.
I can possibly get the admin password for the domain, but isn't that going to still have the same problem because it is no longer connected?
There is the option for me to take it back to the original office and reconnect it to the domain network. If I have to and then login there, what do I do to change the setup so it will work on the other workgroup?
I have the user name and password for the domain and tried that and it couldn't log in because it is no longer connected to the network with the domain server. It is on the workgroup network which is in another building.
I can possibly get the admin password for the domain, but isn't that going to still have the same problem because it is no longer connected?
There is the option for me to take it back to the original office and reconnect it to the domain network. If I have to and then login there, what do I do to change the setup so it will work on the other workgroup?
Lots of things could come into play...Roaming Profiles, Group Policy. If you can't log in by NOT hitting Domain at logon, I would bring it back where you can login, see what really happened and create a new LOCAL USER w/ Admin rights, dump or copy the profile into that one...MY DOCS etc... You can even log off and try loggin on right there before making the trip again.
ASKER
Thanks Harry, but your concise short answer went over my head. "If you can't log in by NOT hitting Domain at logon" reads like a double-negative.
I'm not a network admin, I'm just trying to get a PC that was setup to log into a domain server to join a new Workgroup.
If I take it back, what are the steps after I login to setup a new user that will join the workgroup?
I'm not a network admin, I'm just trying to get a PC that was setup to log into a domain server to join a new Workgroup.
If I take it back, what are the steps after I login to setup a new user that will join the workgroup?
1. Do NOT log onto the Domain in the morning. (unselect domain from the drop down menu)
2. " I'm not a network admin, I'm just trying to get a PC that was setup to log into a domain server to join a new Workgroup" you are now!
3. Control Panel > User Accounts > Create New Account > Give Name > Select Admin Rights
At this point you could copy and paste anything they might need from the old user account i.e. My Documents folder etc...
Look here C:\Documents and Settings\
You might want to consult the person that set this up - do they know you are doing this? I hope so :-)
2. " I'm not a network admin, I'm just trying to get a PC that was setup to log into a domain server to join a new Workgroup" you are now!
3. Control Panel > User Accounts > Create New Account > Give Name > Select Admin Rights
At this point you could copy and paste anything they might need from the old user account i.e. My Documents folder etc...
Look here C:\Documents and Settings\
You might want to consult the person that set this up - do they know you are doing this? I hope so :-)
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I must clarify that this small furniture company has no staff Admin - the system was set up by someone that left the company a long time ago. They have been using a industry software package that cost them over $15k years ago and had a monthly support and maintanence fee of $495.
Luckily for them it just worked for all that time.
It finally became too expensive and they have now switched to a networked version of Quickbooks Premiere Retail edition for less than $1500 and $25 a month support.
If someone remembers the admin password, do I still have to take the PC back to the domain server network?
Either way what are the steps to "move the maching from the domain to the workgroup"?
Luckily for them it just worked for all that time.
It finally became too expensive and they have now switched to a networked version of Quickbooks Premiere Retail edition for less than $1500 and $25 a month support.
If someone remembers the admin password, do I still have to take the PC back to the domain server network?
Either way what are the steps to "move the maching from the domain to the workgroup"?
ASKER
Forgot to add:
HarryB:
1> Domain is the only option in the drop down menu
2> Yes the answer is funny (ironic) but not helpful.
3> I can't log into this PC at all so how do I access the CP???
The company owners asked me to do this and as stated above the old admin is long gone.
HarryB:
1> Domain is the only option in the drop down menu
2> Yes the answer is funny (ironic) but not helpful.
3> I can't log into this PC at all so how do I access the CP???
The company owners asked me to do this and as stated above the old admin is long gone.
I'm not sure you successfully rolled back to a Workgroup originally. That's why I suggested moving it back and seeing if you can log in as it was. If not, you should call a local tech that can "rest" the admin password with ERD Commander 2005 etc...Sounds like the previous admin did a good job at locking things down.
If someone remembers the Admin password you can logon locally unless Group Policy was applied to deny it.
-Hate to say it but rebuilding the box only takes 2 hours! :-)
If someone remembers the Admin password you can logon locally unless Group Policy was applied to deny it.
-Hate to say it but rebuilding the box only takes 2 hours! :-)
ASKER
Sorry but it took me until late this afternoon to give the errant PC some attention and this is what the status is.
No one is sure what the Admin password is, but I tried a number of user names and passwords. The message that keeps appearing is:
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The system could not log you on. Make sure your User Name and domain are correct, then type your password again. Letters in the password must be the correct case.
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There are no options to type in the domain name.
I moved the PC back to the domain network and that didn't seem to make any difference.
So I tried rebooting into Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Last Known Configuration, Directory Services Restore Mode and Enable Boot Logging - none worked and most gave me the same error message.
If there aren't any simple solutions, rebuilding the box in two hours makes sense - I just hato find the WinXPpro install CD.
No one is sure what the Admin password is, but I tried a number of user names and passwords. The message that keeps appearing is:
------
The system could not log you on. Make sure your User Name and domain are correct, then type your password again. Letters in the password must be the correct case.
------
There are no options to type in the domain name.
I moved the PC back to the domain network and that didn't seem to make any difference.
So I tried rebooting into Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Last Known Configuration, Directory Services Restore Mode and Enable Boot Logging - none worked and most gave me the same error message.
If there aren't any simple solutions, rebuilding the box in two hours makes sense - I just hato find the WinXPpro install CD.
Have you considered just resetting the Admin password using one of the methods in the link I posted above (http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm)
In particular, Peter Nordahl's program for resetting passwords is very effective:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/
In particular, Peter Nordahl's program for resetting passwords is very effective:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/
Holy cr@p! Directory Services Restore Mode is for Servers!!!
Was it a server that you rolled back? Yikes...it might have been your backup DC. What OS is it???
Directory Services Restore Mode:
"This option is for the server operating systems and is only used in restoring the SYSVOL directory and the Active Directory directory service on a domain controller"
Was it a server that you rolled back? Yikes...it might have been your backup DC. What OS is it???
Directory Services Restore Mode:
"This option is for the server operating systems and is only used in restoring the SYSVOL directory and the Active Directory directory service on a domain controller"
Harry:
Sharp eye! The title of this post says "XPpro login" so I never even thought of that possibility.
Sharp eye! The title of this post says "XPpro login" so I never even thought of that possibility.
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NO sorry - it is probably not a server. I'll check the service tag. I'll find the XPpro CD and just reinstall the OS.
But not a big worry, because this ten person company that had a domain server for it's retail furniture software called ProfitSystems. It had a Citrix server and was running Lotus Notes as well.
All that is being trashed to go back to a basic network running Quickbooks Premiere and Outlook Express. This will save the company over $10k a year.
But not a big worry, because this ten person company that had a domain server for it's retail furniture software called ProfitSystems. It had a Citrix server and was running Lotus Notes as well.
All that is being trashed to go back to a basic network running Quickbooks Premiere and Outlook Express. This will save the company over $10k a year.
That boot CD from http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/ should allow you to reset the password and login in any case.
ASKER
I tried the boot CD and following the instructions - I believe I changed the Admin password to blank as indicated.
It didn't work! I used the Dell service tag to see that this PC only had Win XP pro installed and no (domain) server software preinstalled.
Now I get an error message - but a different one.
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No domain server was available to validate your password. You may not be able to gain access to some network resources.
--------------------------
I backed up some of this PCs drive, I have to look and see what files were backed up. What folders, system or others, might have the settings that if I restored to this PCs drive, might get me back in?
If no other ideas are avialable, is it time to reinstall XP Pro?
Thanks to all.
It didn't work! I used the Dell service tag to see that this PC only had Win XP pro installed and no (domain) server software preinstalled.
Now I get an error message - but a different one.
---------------
No domain server was available to validate your password. You may not be able to gain access to some network resources.
--------------------------
I backed up some of this PCs drive, I have to look and see what files were backed up. What folders, system or others, might have the settings that if I restored to this PCs drive, might get me back in?
If no other ideas are avialable, is it time to reinstall XP Pro?
Thanks to all.
I'm confused...were you able to log on "locally" to do the back up or did you "slave" it in another machine? If you can get the "goodies" back them up then FDISK it and be done in 2 hours. :-)
The SAM (security accounts manager) file has the password hash. Using one of the tools NTpasswd, ED Commander 2005 will insert a new password into it.
*Note - if the data was encypted and you perform a password hash insertion you will NOT be able to access that data anymore. This is the downside to NTpasswd and ERD 2005.
Glad to here it wasn't a backup DC.
The SAM (security accounts manager) file has the password hash. Using one of the tools NTpasswd, ED Commander 2005 will insert a new password into it.
*Note - if the data was encypted and you perform a password hash insertion you will NOT be able to access that data anymore. This is the downside to NTpasswd and ERD 2005.
Glad to here it wasn't a backup DC.
I agree, if you managed to backup all important data files then reinstalling XP is probably best. You can just do an XP install and not lose any data - just don't reformat the disk during the install. You will have to reinstall all applications, network settings etc. though.
Actually he would want to get rid of all the bad settings. I would format and start clean in the Workgroup. I guess its preference really. Good point r-k
"Actually he would want to get rid of all the bad settings"
Yes, I was thinking of a "clean install", i.e. into a different folder. That way no old settings are retained, but the user data stays in place. Be sure to backup the "My Documents" folders (in the c:\documents and settings\ tree, plus other stuff there such as email) as well before reinstalling. Also note point raised by Harry above re. encrypted data in case it applies. Very difficult to retrieve encrypted data after a reinstall.
Yes, I was thinking of a "clean install", i.e. into a different folder. That way no old settings are retained, but the user data stays in place. Be sure to backup the "My Documents" folders (in the c:\documents and settings\ tree, plus other stuff there such as email) as well before reinstalling. Also note point raised by Harry above re. encrypted data in case it applies. Very difficult to retrieve encrypted data after a reinstall.
ASKER
I am going to do the clean install because I ran out of time to try anything else.
Thank you all for your ideas.
Thank you all for your ideas.
You know...the drop down menu (might have to hit the more button to see it)