Command (s) to join computer to a 2008 domain

Without the local login, there's not going to be any way to get it off and then back on the domain. However, there are tools out there you can use to access the local login.

Go to http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/ to download the one that I use. It creates a boot disc that you can use to reset local login passwords.

I can't just join it back to the domain from the DC with a command line?  It was on the domain before it just hasn't been used in a year and I can't remember the PW.

You actually have to pull it off the domain first to resolve this issue. Just attempting to re-join via a command line will not get rid of the problem, unfortunately.

OK I understand but if I take it out of AD from the DC or even reset it from the DC, will that surffice?  I'm just trying to figure out a shortcut of sort

If you remove it from AD, you'll just experience a different issue with trying to log in as there won't be a proper connection between the PC and the directory service any more. Unfortunately, even with command line, trying to disjoin and re-join the domain will want a local login for the computer.

I've tried doing a reset from a DC for this when I first encountered this problem, but that doesn't actually work. Sadly, the only way to resolve this is to remove the PC from the domain, then log in and re-join on the PC.

OK I'll try the PW reset and if that doesn't work I can always redo the machine. thanks for the info

thanks I'll try all this tonight when I get to the machine.  Much appreciated everyone!

Not free..
But if you can find KonBoot (http://www.piotrbania.com/all/kon-boot/) I would suggest using this...
It will allow you to bypass windows passwords off a bootable ISO disk. In doing this, you can reset the local password for the machine and reboot into it again, without the disk.. This is the way i rescue old pc's on the network that no-one knows the password, of the original installation admin has long since been gone..

OK I won't be able to look at the machine until tonight.  I did download what was suggest from CorinTack I'll try that 1st and then I'll see if I can find what you're suggesting.  I'll also try pulling the nic cable and trying to login with cached creds too.

If you haven't ever logged in with the domain admin on this PC before, the cached credentials thing is not going to work, unfortunately. It may be worth a shot, though, if you have done so.

I have I had to put it on the domain at some point.  It's just been off for about a year.  I'll try that but I'm going to try the PW tool you gave me the link to.  Thanks!

I tied to use the disk on this machine  however, strangely enough it wouldn't load.  I got to a certain point and just kept rebooting.  I tried it on another machine this morning and it works fine?  I Tried to login without the cable being plugged in but it's too long I can't get in.  Going to have to redo this machine.

Why aren't you trying the utilman.exe suggestion?

I forgot!  I will try this!

Utilman worked great!  Thanks so much.  You saved me hours of work.