You just install it using the Add/Remove Windows Components.
Then change the TCP/IP properties on all machines with static IP (Button Advanced --> tab WINS) and add the WINS server there (yes, let the DC point to itself as well).
If you have DHCP clients, add option 44 (WINS/NBNS server) to the scope options.

Okay - Is there any way to see if they are seeing the WINS server or no? I just installed the wins server and it does say "responding" for the server. I also see "Active Registrations", but - I'm not seeing a system that I entered the WINS server address on a few moments ago.

Any ideas?

Another question - Do I need to change anything in the "NetBIOS Setting" area? Like "enable netbios over TCP/IP" or just leave default?

Also - Do I leave DNS configured? That will still get used as well, correct?

Thanks

To actually view the registrations, you have to right-click "Active registrations" and choose "Show Data" (or whatever the first entry in the context menu is, not using an English version here).
And just in case: NetBIOS over TCP/IP obviously needs to be enabled on the server and the clients, and the Computer Browser service should be running as well.
You can use nblookup.exe (basically nslookup for WINS) to check if a name can be resolved by the WINS server.
NBLookup.exe command-line tool
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830578

As long as NetBIOS isn't actively disabled, the default setting should work fine.
And, yes, DNS *has* to be left configured. It's a must for any AD member running W2k or later.

Okay, thanks. Someone suggested that I setup WINS server to possibly help the "slow login" that's happening right now.

That doesn't seem to be resolving the issue. :(
The problem is basically that whenever users on the domain try to login, the "Applying your personal settings" on the client computer just sits there...sometimes for as long as 2-5 minutes.

oBdA. Okay - Wow those are great links. My next question is - Yes it sure looks like it's DNS...any way to somehow "automatically" configure my DNS to match the domain? Doing it by hand to match everything in the pictures has been tedious and I must be missing something. I've been doing this for 4 days no.

Would love to find a way to automatically set it up. Is there a tool? or function to re-generate what I need?

I just have a feeling I'll be going in circles for 4 more days and get no where.

Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

It's not that complicated:
- in the forwaders section in the properties of your DNS server, configure your ISP's DNS servers.
- in the TCP/IP settings on all clients with a static IP address, make sure the only DNS server configured is your DC.
- if you have a DHCP server running, make sure the only DNS server configured in the options is your DC.

OBda,

Just FYI - I went to one of the links you sent me and BOOM I got the dns running! The machines are now logging on within 3-5 seconds!! The machines that don't have the WINS enabled are taking 3-5 minutes and with wins and the proper dns config on the server, within 3-5 seconds!

Anyways - Can you just take a peek at one last thing? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything that will cause probs down the line:

Go to this link (that you sent) AND READ SECTION 6 - Specifically look at the picture of the dns config:
http://redmondmag.com/features/article.asp?EditorialsID=413

I literally just copied what it shows in that window, except for the things that don't apply to me (Like "east" "west" or Dc3, etc. Anyways - How do I know what goes in those subdirectories? The picture doesn't show, but yet my client computers are going in quickly now? Is there anything else in there that I don't see on the picture?

Ryan

That section only applies if you actually have child domains; if you don't have any, just ignore it.
That picture is just to illustrate what a delegated zone ("east", "west") looks like in DNS.

Thank you SO MUCH! My network is running lightning-fast now!