Can't log on to Domain Controller

Question

I have a computer in a remote location (6 hour drive) on a BOVPN back to our home office. The remote computer is running XP Pro, DC is on Sever 03 all system 100% up to date. The user was logged in and everything was working fine. The user restarted and now can not log on to the system. Gets the "Domain controller can not be reached" error. I can ping the system, and connect with the remote registry, but I get challenged for a password even though I am logged in as an Admin. When I give it the login information for the admin accoutn, it tells me "Access is denied". Any advice for what I could try before I drive 6 hours?

Solution

You could have the remote user pull the network cable and login with his cached credentials.

I would use a windows password reset disk and reset the local admin password and then rejoin the domain.

All new systems get random passwords set to the local admin account which we keep in a database for cases such as this.

Comments

[Skaughty]

Still don't know why it broke, but the user called and said it is working now. I will take it off the domain and rejoin it next time I am in that side of the market. Little extra info for anyone else who has seen this. support.microsoft.com/kb/162797.

[Maxwell]

Just to had that in order to have a remote control you can send him one UltraVNC Single Clic binary (uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html) that will do an outbound connection passing the firewall if it cannot be disabled.

[Skaughty]

Helps yes. I had the user check the clock in the BIOS. The time is with in 1 min of the server. One a side note I would love a backup DC, however we have 35 remote locations. I don't want to manage 35 more servers or try to get the budget to install them :).