Unable to join the domain with Windows 7 professional

Question

I've just received a new laptop with a ghosted Windows 7 Professional image. When I go join the machine to the domain I see the 'Domain' text box greyed out (the system is in Spanish) :

My local account has administrator rights. To verify it's not my account that's at fault I've enabled the Administrator account and tried to join, logging in with that account, without any success. Does anyone know why that box is greyed out? The 'Network ID' button is also greyed out in the system properties dialogue box.

Solution 1

It would appear that there was something wrong with the image used to ghost the machine from. A re-install from scratch using the DVD resolved the problem.

Solution 2

Check the Device Manager and make sure the network card is ok.

Also check to make sure the correct protocols are installed. Right Click the NIC and choose properties. "Client for Microsoft Network" etc should all be there.

You also want to check your Services. Computer Browser, WorkStation, Netlogon, etc should be running.

Comments

[Admin]

Make sure your WIndows 7 in not HOME edition. It should be at least PRO

[grantc]

It was the Pro edition. In the end a re-install from DVD sorted out the problem.

[Admin]

Check that the WORKSTATION service is started.

[grantc]

Starting the Net Login services gives the following in the event log - "This computer is configured as a member of a workgroup, not as a member of a domain. The Netlogon service does not need to run in this configuration.". All the other services you mention are started and the adapters (Wifi and ethernet) have the MS client installed.

[surfasb]

This has nothing to do with the DC.

[grantc]

Changing the name had no effect, neither did removing references to "WORKGROUP" in the registry. I'll take a look at downloading the GPO tools to see if that sees anything. I have a suspicion that whoever built the ghost image has done something strange. Perhaps I'll need to rebuild from scratch.

[Duall]

Yeah, if you can't find the source of the issue, and it's an uncommon one, you might just have to. I had a server one time that would NOT install AD. No matter what I tried. Spent three weeks to no avail. Reinstalled the OS and it worked fine.

[Ivan Viktorovic]

Do not use the tool NewSID it will destroy your windows installation and you wont be able to boot the system after you used the tool.