Ok, first of all I will let all know that I am a little new to NT. So this problem maybe very simple, I just don't know it.

I have a network with approximately 15 computers with 6 running NT. I had to upgrade one of the NT ones and I wasn't comfortable installing drivers, so since someone else already upgraded one of the other NT machines
I just copied the partition from the existing
functioning machine to the new one with identical hardware.

I then immediately changed the computer name on the upgraded computer so there wouldn't be conflicting names with the domain controller, and since it is obtaining an IP through DHCP I didn't need to mess with that. I can login to the machine with the local profile and access internet, network everything, but when I attempt to login to the domain controller, I get this error:

"The system cannot log you on to this domain because the systems's computer account in its primary domain is missing or the password on that account is incorrect."

Do I have to somehow add the computer to the domain controller(NT Server) if so how? or does the problem lie in the fact that it is a copied partition? I totally disconnect the other computer from the network thinking that it is seeing duplicate systems or something, but this does not work either.

The machine I copied from still logs in fine?
They should be identical?????

Please, any help would be greatly appreciated!!

You copied the partition? How? Did you image it and then install the image?

You had to upgrade the NT machine to what? 2000?

If you want to add a machine to an NT Domain, and the computer name already exists on the Domain, then you need to delete the computer account from the PDC and then rejoin the computer to the Domain.

As it seems like you really have no clue the proper way to do things, (just an observation), I highly recommend you purchase a book on NT Server...and read it... :)

I agree I don't know much about NT, as I stated in my previous post. I do have a book on NT Server, but it has been no help. I just copied the partition from a hard drive utilities disk from Maxtor.

I upgraded the hardware on the NT machine not
OS. Since I didn't want to mess with drivers I just copied a partition from a computer with NT and the upgraded hardware.

Did your suggestion have anything to do with the actual error message I am getting? If the name is already in the PDC then why can't it recognize the computer? As long as it is not shared by any other computer on the network?

I appreciate the suggestions.

Hi,

The reason you cannot connect even thought the computer account exists is because there is a SID (security ID) associated with the operating system.

These steps should help (if not let me know)

1. Remove the computer from the domain within its own network settings (you will need to reboot here).

2. When the computer comes back up rename it and reboot again

3. On the domain controller open server manager find the new computer name and delete it.

4. On the computer within network properties add the computer to the domain (you will need to use a domain administrator account to create a computer account in the domain). This also will require a reboot.

5. if you are still having difficulty at this stage let me know.

No such thing as a stupid question!

So, I repeat. :)

"If you want to add a machine to an NT Domain, and the computer name already exists on the Domain, then you need to delete the computer account from the PDC and then rejoin the computer to the Domain."

taking this one set further when you copied the nt install from one machine to another you in effect "cloned" the SID [security identifier]. It is my understanding that when a machine joins the domain its local sid is ammended with the domains sid to create a unique identifier.

Problem here is you have the same local sid for two machines. Solution is to go to sysinternals.com and download the free sid changer called NewSid. Run it on this problem machine.

So you would;
1. have the wkst be in a workgroup.
2. run the NewSid utility
3. delete any associated account on the NT server using server manager from the admin menu.
4. from the wkst logon using the administrator account and join the NT domain.

That should take care of the issue.

Wow, thanx for all the help, I will try those things, and if I still run into a problem I will let you know.

I really appreciate the help!!!

I ran the NEWSID program and that did the trick. I figured there was something that was reduntant on the copy.

Works great now, I love this forum!