Hi everyone, I did extensive reading on this issue in these forums and microsoft forums. I still can't find the answer I am looking for as everyone assumes you have 100% knowleadge on the issue, If I did I wouldm't be asking the question. O.K, here's the problem. I set up, Active Directory using my computer name as the domain name. Ex. My computer name was x, now it's domain is x.com. I think you now what I mean. I follow all the prompt to install AD, and install DNS aswell, as it asks you if you want to install, so I did. Now, it gives some error that can't find some DNS thing during installation so Microsoft said ingnore the error and hit yes. It installed all well, and after the reboot, it sits there for about 5 minutes on the 'preparing network connection' box on startup then finally it logs in. I check the Event viewer for reasons why and I get a whole lot of DNS issues as I presumed on all my reading that when it stalls on the 'preparing network connection' that it is almost certainly a DNS issue. I have the TCP/IP settings of my LAN set to use 192.168.0.1 in the prefered DNS settings as my computer is the only DNS server on the network. I read some where about NSLOOKUP as a good check tool. When I run NSLOOKUP I get an error saying DNS Request timed out, time out was 2 seconds, can't find server name for address 192.168.0.1: Timed Out. Then it just say default server dns.meb.optusnet.com.au address 192.142.0.51. So I guess you can say it failed the NSLOOKUP. In the event viewer it also says DNS The DNS server machine currently has no DNS domain name. Its DNS name is a single label hostname with no domain (example: "host" rather than "host.microsoft.com"). I have set it as x.com (X being my chosen name) It is not a single label. Being a DC I can't change it as I feel for I will have to remove AD to change this. I can't see anything wrong with what I have done. Another error is as follows. The DNS server did not detect any zones of either primary or secondary type. It will run as a caching-only server but will not be authoritative for any zones. For more information, see the online Help. HMM. I have set up forward lookup. Another error: The DNS server encountered a packet addressed to itself -- IP address x.x.x.x. x being my IP address assinged by my ISP Similar Error: The DNS server encountered a packet addressed to itself -- IP address 192.168.0.1. Then I found this error under application log Dynamic registration or deregistration of one or more DNS records failed because no DNS servers are available. How do I manage to try set this thing up correctly. I am runnning Win2k Adv Svr. Running NAT aswell, NAT is not using DHCP, all addresses fall in side a address pool. Can't see NAT having anything to do with DNS. Thanks in advance.

I also have to add that my Win2k Adv Svr has a static LAN address of 192.168.0.1 and the whole network is Staticly assigned individual IP adress on all other machines. I can manage all user account perfectly and it looks like AD can receive connections and everyone in the netwrok can connect to the domain. So if they can connect to the domain why am I getting all these errors listed above about the DNS Server. Another this is I have noticed in my shares that 'SYSVOL' is not being shared. I remeber once in a past installatioon that SYSVOL was being shared. Does this make a difference. The computer is still waiting about 5 mins on the 'preparing network connections' screen. Can anyone plz help me out there. Step by Step instructions would be very appreciated, as All I see in these forums are answers like, Configure the DNS. Well that's not gonna help. Is what I have done above wrong or right. Your opinion would be very much appreciated. Thanks

By default the SYSVOL isn't shared, and I wouldn't do it. You risk an unauthorized person gaining access and messing with your system. NOTE: Sysvol MUST reside on an NTFS partition. As to DNS...it's been my experience that you should always setup DNS before installing AD. You can do it at the same time but it's always best to do it beforehand. Without AD installed the basic setup is as follows: 1) Edit the TCP/IP properties of your NIC and point the DNS address at yourself (192.168.0.1) 2) Next, right click on My Computer >> Properties >> Network ID tab >> Properties button >> More button Here you will add your DNS suffix (ie: x.com) Click Ok to close (repeat until Properties is closed. 3) Open Administrative Tools and open your DNS manager. Create forward and reverse lookup zones and reboot 4) Once you've rebooted, ensure your DNS is working 5) Run dcpromo.exe and install AD

If you have already run dcpromo and accepted M$ suggestion of saying yes. Then open DNS and add an active directory integrated forward lookup zone. It should then after a while add the four subdomains itself._mscds, _sites, _tcp, _udp. Once these four show up, then DNS should actually start working for you.

Don't forget to create a reverse lookup zone while you're creating the forward, and do the DNS suffix otherwise you'll have headaches. You can also stop and restart the netlogon service instead of rebooting as I outlined earlier to get the DNS working . I didn't mention it because I didn't want to be asked how to do that as well.

I told you guys before! I can't change my domain name or it's properties as I have already run AD. I have added my x.com in the DNS Suffix for this connection in the TCP/IP porperties as advised by Microsoft. I don't have those four directories _mscds etc etc. My forward look up zone is set As Active Directory Intergrated. And Allow Dynamic Updates is set to Yes. And Yes. My SYSVOL sits on the primary partition which is my NTFS Drive. I have seen it under c:\winnt\SYSVOL so I guess thats o.k. Did I mention along the way that I have 2 nic's. Should this matter. How do I get those four directories listed. Did any of you guys read the errors above. Or did you just read the first couple of lines. Thanks for those replies but most of what you said has already been done. Unless you know how to get those 4 directories up manually _sites, _tco _udp. Why don't they appear? How di I get them up. I don't need answers plz. Just step by step instructions. Thanks again guys. Great to get some feedback. Can someone plz email me so I can directly contact you via email for some help on this matter. Thanks

Start over..........reinstall your server and follow my instructions above. My email is included with my post's, just click on my name to email me.