Re: clarification sought in using XP Pro laptop for domain at work and workgroup at home

From: Robert L [MS-MVP] (noreply_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 02/20/05


Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2005 13:58:20 -0600

this may help, quoted from http://www.ChicagoTech.net
Q: How can I share files between workgroup computer and domain/workgroup computer?
I have a home wireless network and share files and a printer between two computers. I also use Win 2000/XP laptop at work with domain network. How can I share files between these computers at home?

A: Deepening on your network setup, you may 1) Logon local laptop using the same logon id and password on both machine.
2) change workgroup name to match win2000 domain and the laptop needs to install at home first ad then join the domain .
3) without changing the workgroup name and logon ID, just enable guest account in win 2000/XP.
 4) If you are running XP, enable Simple File Sharing.
5) logon domain user on the domain laptop (even the workgroup is different), use command net use \\workgroupcomputer /user:administrator, (here administrator is workgroup computer local administrator), the enter workgroup computer administrator password. You should be able to access the workgroup resources.

For more and other information, go to http://howtonetworking.com.

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services. Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
How to Setup Windows, Network, Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
I recommend Brinkster for web hosting!

  "John B" <jb@nospam.com> wrote in message news:1J5Sd.6543$OP3.2210@fe07.lga...
  I am inquiring for a friend. Unfortunately, I do not have an XP Pro
  computer, or a domain, to experiment on. So I am asking for some directions
  in helping my friend use his laptop at home, and at work.

  The XP Pro laptop was once configured for a two-computer workgroup.
  Recently my friend changed employment situations and his laptop was then
  changed by his new employer's technician to connect to the company domain.
  He has two "profiles," but I am unsure of whether those are hardware
  profiles, or whatever. My friend is many miles away, and I haven't seen his
  laptop for months. We speak by telephone.

  He called me and said he "wanted it both ways." One big challenge to us is
  that the other (XP Home desktop) computer that made up his two-computer
  workgroup just happened to die, for unrelated reasons (hard drive death),
  simultaneous with his joining of the new employer's domain. He has replaced
  the desktop with a new XP Home computer, which has default settings, such as
  "WORKGROUP" as the name of its network affiliation. Of course there is no
  domain at his home, and I am aware that XP Home computers are incapable of
  logging on to a domain, anyway.

  I have searched old threads in this newsgroup, without gaining a clear
  answer to my friend's need. Ron Mendoza's instructions come very close.
  However, I doubt that my friend wants to create a new local user in his XP
  Pro laptop. He wants his old user, with all its e-mail, favorite places,
  etc., to be usable when either connected to his employer's domain, or his
  home workgroup.

  Last night, we spoke via telephone and he switched his laptop to "WORKGROUP"
  and away from domain affiliation. His home peer network now functions. I
  anticipate that he will no longer be able to logon to the company domain,
  until he reconfigures his laptop for domain participation. His employer's
  domain name is ABCDOMAIN.LOCAL, and he can call the employer's technician if
  necessary.

  So should he change the name of his HOME workgroup to ABCDOMAIN? Should he
  leave his laptop configured for domain participation, and expect it to
  participate in his home peer network without any further changes?

  Is there a need for two *network* profiles (as opposed to hardware
  profiles), one specific to the office, and the other specific to his home?
  A few specific instructions would be appreciated, in this case, as I lack
  the equipment to try this myself.

  Thanks!

  Marc Greenfield Nov 20 2001, 11:59 pm show options
  Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web
  From: "Marc Greenfield" <greenfi...@eurasia.overta.ru> - Find messages by
  this author
  Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 10:56:34 +0300
  Local: Tues, Nov 20 2001 11:56 pm
  Subject: Re: Accessing multiple domains
  Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original |
  Report Abuse

  I have a question like the one asked by Ken Thompson.

  I need to connect to two networks using my laptop with XP Pro. I have a
  docking station and when the domain and TCP/IP office settings have been
  installed, XP automatically sets up two hardware profiles (that's good). The
  office network has a domain and TCP/IP address, etc. The home network has a
  workgroup, no domain, and automatically senses the network settings.

  When I set up the laptop to connect to the domain, XP boots to the correct
  domain hardware profile and the logon screen indicates that I have a choice
  of logging into the network domain or the computer. When I select to log
  onto the computer at home, it retains all of the domain and office LAN
  settings for the PCMCIA card and so cannot connect to my home computer. (I
  couldn't find a second "XP compatible" card and did not want to buy two of
  the same cards, fearing that I would have the problem I am having now). If I
  reset the computer at home to have the correct TCP/IP settings and to attach
  to a workgroup not a domain, I can connect to the home network, but when I
  reboot, the domain option is eliminated and I must reset everything back in
  the office.

  Can anyone tell me if I can set up the computer to boot to a domain and
  alternately to a workgroup? Will I need to purchase a second PCMCIA card
  that binds to different network settings?

  Regards,

  Hopelessly confused

  Ron Mendoza Nov 21 2001, 8:47 am show options
  Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web
  From: Ron Mendoza <ronald_mend...@public.mailshell.com&­gt; - Find messages
  by this author
  Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 08:44:44 -0800
  Local: Wed, Nov 21 2001 8:44 am
  Subject: Re: Accessing multiple domains
  Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original |
  Report Abuse

  Marc,
  There are multiple ways to achieve what you want.

  1.
  If you haven't already done so, create a local user on your laptop
  with the desired user name and password you want to use in your
  Workgroup at home. At work, log on to the domain as usual, using your
  domain account.

  At home, simply log into your local machine using the local account
  you created above. You should then be able to access all your
  Workgroup resources without a problem.

  2.
  Another way is to log on to your laptop using your Domain account even
  when you're at home. Then, use the Manage Network Passwords feature
  to store the user name and password you want to use when accessing
  your Workgroup resources at home.



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