I've setup a Active Directory and a DNS Server on Windows 2003 Enterprise server. First i could join my xp pro workstations to my domain fine but i couldn't log on with my domain user accounts from the workstation. i would recieve the following message: "The system cannot log you on because the domain home.ics is not available" i can ping the workstation from the server and vice versa with ease. i can also browse shard drives and folders easily when the xp pro machine is on the workgroup. then i looked at this artcal and took the last guy's advice: http://computing.net/windows2003/wwwboard/forum/4635.html This totaly screwed everything up. Now when I try to change the system settings on the XP workstations to join my domain, i receive the following error: 'The specified server cannot perform the requested operation'. i can look under the active directory on my DC and i see the workstation's account is disabled for some reason. I've tried to enable the account and re-join the domain from the workstation just to get the same results. 'The specified server cannot perform the requested operation'. i've also tried to rename the workstation and rejoin the domain. same results. This is extreamly frustrating to me and i dont know what else to do. any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance. Give me a Break, I'm Only 15 years old!

OK well I guess that last guy would be me, and I'm 16 :) I dont know what else to suggest, other than checking your DNS server (should be the DC for ease, and its veerrryyyy important). Hell, I could try and help you over RDP if you want! Let me know about your DNS anyway, Rob

im still haveing a lot of problems and just finished going through the drastic measures of reinstallig my OS on my workstation and im still getting the error of 'The specified server cannot perform the requested operation' if you wanna hep me through RDP that would be awesome, ive never done RDP before but there is a first time for everything.

With that type of error message DNS is the most likely candidate. When you're joining your client PC to the domain, are you first entering the DNS suffix of the domain? If not, you should be. One thing to check. Ensure the DNS address on the client PC points to your DC by it's IP address (the DC's). Then right click on My Computer and select "Properties" on the menu that comes up. Once that's open click on the Computer Name tab. On the Computer Name tab click on the Change button. Once that opens click on the Change button and enter your DNS suffix there (where it says "Primary DNS ...." and click OK. Click OK to close all the windows and then continue joining it to the domain and see if that doesn't work for you.

im sorry, i am kind of a newbie. i dont know exaclty how to: 'Ensure the DNS address on the client PC points to your DC by it's IP address (the DC's)'

how about changing the workstations name like you already did, but also changing the IP address...changing everything. is it getting an IP from your server, from your router or is it static? if its static...why dont you change the ip and see what error you get then? Also, when you see the account is disabled, and you re enable it..does it disable itself again? or does it just show enabled since the last time you enabled it. (or tried to) have you logged onto the workstation locally by the way? not using the domain?

In order for an XP machine to join an Active Directory domain, a few things have to happen. One of the first things that must have to happen is that the client computer must be able to find a domain controller. It does this using DNS. Being able to ping a computer is not enough - it needs to be able to find a specific service that computer is running. DNS also does this. In order for your client to find a DNS server, it must be told about it. You can do this manually or automatically via DHCP. Since you haven't mentioned DHCP, let's skip that for now. In the properties of TCP/PIP on the client, check the IP address. Make sure it is a valid IP for the subnet you are on. You also need to define the DNS server. There are settings for Preferred and Alternate DNS servers. This is where you tell the client how to find the DNS server. The DNS server will then find the domain controller (often the same machine) and assuming everything else is set up correctly, you'll join the domain and be able to log in. There must also be a computer account in the domain for this client. This can be created before the client attempts to join the domain or if you have the proper security credentials, you can do it during the joining process. Report back with the IP address of the domain controller and the settings of the client and I'm sure we can get this working. So what Curt is trying to tell you is to make sure the properties of TCP/IP on the client has the proper IP address in the Preferred DNS server settings. Good luck. And Hi Curt, long time no talk to.