DC could not be contacted NT4 domain

I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
domain.
Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I cannot
add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our domain
name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but not the
two laptops ?
Any ideas ?
Regards
Tony

Run a WINS Server. It can be on the DC if you like.
Make sure all machine use the WINS Server in their TCP/IP Config.

--
Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed are my own (as annoying as they are), and not those of
my employer or anyone else associated with me.
-----------------------------------------------------

"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
>number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
>domain.
> Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I cannot
> add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our
> domain name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
> Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but not
> the two laptops ?
> Any ideas ?
> Regards
> Tony
>
>

Do you have WINS server? If yes, make sure the new laptop have correct WINS settings.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
domain.
Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I cannot
add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our domain
name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but not the
two laptops ?
Any ideas ?
Regards
Tony

Hi,
Both of the replies refer to setting up a wins server, or making sure the settings are correct for the wins server. Why do laptops need a wins server, and standard pc's do not ? As I explained other machines can be added to domain with no problems, just not the two laptops ? All machines use dhcp.
BTW I do not run a wins server, and never have.
Regards
Tony
"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Do you have WINS server? If yes, make sure the new laptop have correct WINS settings.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
domain.
Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I cannot
add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our domain
name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but not the
two laptops ?
Any ideas ?
Regards
Tony

The reson for suggesting a WINS server is that NT4 uses the special
Netbios name <domainname 1C> to find the domain controller. If you are
running WINS and all machines are set up as WINS clients, this works
smoothly because the clients will get the IP address for the domain
controller from WINS.

If you are not running WINS, the clients will need to get this by using
broadcasts. Obviously this isn't working for your laptops. Can they ping the
server by name? If not, can they ping it by its IP address?

"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Hi,
Both of the replies refer to setting up a wins server, or making sure the
settings are correct for the wins server. Why do laptops need a wins server,
and standard pc's do not ? As I explained other machines can be added to
domain with no problems, just not the two laptops ? All machines use dhcp.
BTW I do not run a wins server, and never have.
Regards
Tony
"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Do you have WINS server? If yes, make sure the new laptop have correct
WINS settings.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
domain.
Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I
cannot
add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our
domain
name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but not
the
two laptops ?
Any ideas ?
Regards
Tony

You simply "got lucky" with the desktop machines. The problem you have is
normal and almost expected when there is no WINS Server.

--
Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed are my own (as annoying as they are), and not those of
my employer or anyone else associated with me.
-----------------------------------------------------


"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Hi,
Both of the replies refer to setting up a wins server, or making sure the
settings are correct for the wins server. Why do laptops need a wins server,
and standard pc's do not ? As I explained other machines can be added to
domain with no problems, just not the two laptops ? All machines use dhcp.
BTW I do not run a wins server, and never have.
Regards
Tony
"Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Do you have WINS server? If yes, make sure the new laptop have correct WINS
settings.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
domain.
Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I cannot
add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our domain
name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but not the
two laptops ?
Any ideas ?
Regards
Tony

Hi Phillip,
I must have got very lucky as we have 20 pc's or more working fine, just not
the dell laptops ?
Thanks
Tony

"Phillip Windell" <@.> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> You simply "got lucky" with the desktop machines. The problem you have is
> normal and almost expected when there is no WINS Server.
>
> --
> Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
> www.wandtv.com
>
> The views expressed are my own (as annoying as they are), and not those of
> my employer or anyone else associated with me.
> -----------------------------------------------------
>
>
> "Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
> Both of the replies refer to setting up a wins server, or making sure the
> settings are correct for the wins server. Why do laptops need a wins
> server, and standard pc's do not ? As I explained other machines can be
> added to domain with no problems, just not the two laptops ? All machines
> use dhcp.
> BTW I do not run a wins server, and never have.
> Regards
> Tony
> "Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Do you have WINS server? If yes, make sure the new laptop have correct
> WINS settings.
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
> number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
> domain.
> Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I cannot
> add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our
> domain
> name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
> Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but not
> the
> two laptops ?
> Any ideas ?
> Regards
> Tony
>

Hi Bill,
Using ping, the laptops cannot find the domain controller or any machine by
name, only by ip.
BTW I'm not ignoring advice to set up the wins server, I just want to
understand how I can join the domain for the existing non laptop machines.
Regards
Tony

"Bill Grant" <not.available@online> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> The reson for suggesting a WINS server is that NT4 uses the special
> Netbios name <domainname 1C> to find the domain controller. If you
> are running WINS and all machines are set up as WINS clients, this works
> smoothly because the clients will get the IP address for the domain
> controller from WINS.
>
> If you are not running WINS, the clients will need to get this by using
> broadcasts. Obviously this isn't working for your laptops. Can they ping
> the server by name? If not, can they ping it by its IP address?
>
> "Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
> Both of the replies refer to setting up a wins server, or making sure the
> settings are correct for the wins server. Why do laptops need a wins
> server, and standard pc's do not ? As I explained other machines can be
> added to domain with no problems, just not the two laptops ? All machines
> use dhcp.
> BTW I do not run a wins server, and never have.
> Regards
> Tony
> "Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Do you have WINS server? If yes, make sure the new laptop have correct
> WINS settings.
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
> number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
> domain.
> Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I
> cannot
> add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our
> domain
> name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
> Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but
> not the
> two laptops ?
> Any ideas ?
> Regards
> Tony
>
>
>

Yes, you got very lucky.

--
Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed are my own (as annoying as they are), and not those of my
employer or anyone else associated with me.
-----------------------------------------------------


"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Phillip,
> I must have got very lucky as we have 20 pc's or more working fine, just not
> the dell laptops ?
> Thanks
> Tony
>
> "Phillip Windell" <@.> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> You simply "got lucky" with the desktop machines. The problem you have is
>> normal and almost expected when there is no WINS Server.
>>
>> --
>> Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
>> www.wandtv.com
>>
>> The views expressed are my own (as annoying as they are), and not those of my
>> employer or anyone else associated with me.
>> -----------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> "Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi,
>> Both of the replies refer to setting up a wins server, or making sure the
>> settings are correct for the wins server. Why do laptops need a wins server,
>> and standard pc's do not ? As I explained other machines can be added to
>> domain with no problems, just not the two laptops ? All machines use dhcp.
>> BTW I do not run a wins server, and never have.
>> Regards
>> Tony
>> "Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Do you have WINS server? If yes, make sure the new laptop have correct WINS
>> settings.
>>
>> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
>> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
>> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
>> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
>> "Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with a
>> number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to the
>> domain.
>> Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I cannot
>> add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our domain
>> name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
>> Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but not the
>> two laptops ?
>> Any ideas ?
>> Regards
>> Tony
>>
>
>

That confirms that you have a name resolution problem. To fix it without
WINS, you need to go back to putting an LMHOSTS file on the client to
resolve the name to its IP address.

See KB119495 for a list of the Netbios special names. <domainame 1c>
is the special name you need to find the PDC to log on.

"Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Bill,
> Using ping, the laptops cannot find the domain controller or any machine
> by name, only by ip.
> BTW I'm not ignoring advice to set up the wins server, I just want to
> understand how I can join the domain for the existing non laptop machines.
> Regards
> Tony
>
> "Bill Grant" <not.available@online> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> The reson for suggesting a WINS server is that NT4 uses the special
>> Netbios name <domainname 1C> to find the domain controller. If you
>> are running WINS and all machines are set up as WINS clients, this works
>> smoothly because the clients will get the IP address for the domain
>> controller from WINS.
>>
>> If you are not running WINS, the clients will need to get this by
>> using broadcasts. Obviously this isn't working for your laptops. Can they
>> ping the server by name? If not, can they ping it by its IP address?
>>
>> "Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi,
>> Both of the replies refer to setting up a wins server, or making sure the
>> settings are correct for the wins server. Why do laptops need a wins
>> server, and standard pc's do not ? As I explained other machines can be
>> added to domain with no problems, just not the two laptops ? All machines
>> use dhcp.
>> BTW I do not run a wins server, and never have.
>> Regards
>> Tony
>> "Robert L [MVP - Networking]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Do you have WINS server? If yes, make sure the new laptop have correct
>> WINS settings.
>>
>> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
>> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
>> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
>> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
>> "Tony Benham" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I have a NT4 domain controller, which has been running for years,with
>> a
>> number of pc's, running win2000 or xp professional sp2 connected to
>> the
>> domain.
>> Recently we have bought a couple of laptops with xp pro sp2, but I
>> cannot
>> add these to the network ? I run network id on the laptop, enter our
>> domain
>> name, and it immediately reports cannot find domain controller.
>> Other machines still can be added to the domain with no problem, but
>> not the
>> two laptops ?
>> Any ideas ?
>> Regards
>> Tony
>>
>>
>>
>
>