Re: Feel Duped by Microsoft with MCE NOT being allowed to join DOM

For what it's worth, I purchased a laptop with XP Media Center 2005
installed. I added a user name and password that is the same user name and
password that I use to log onto my pc at work. We have a Windows NT network.
I connected my laptop to the network via cable and have not problem logging
onto the NT server as well as the Exchange server. I also use the same
laptop at home to connect to other Workgroup computers. Don't ask me why I
am able to connect to the NT network at the office which has a domain name as
well as the Workgroup at home with a Workgroup name. I use the same user
name and password at both locations. I'm also able to connect to the NT
server at work via a VPN, again with no problems. The only mystery to me is
the fact that I've entered my home Workgroup Name via My
Computer/Properties/Computer Name/Network ID/Member of/Workgroup. I had all
sorts of problems doing the same thing on my older laptop which had XP Pro on
it, probably because of too much experimentation. Bottom line. I think there
might be a simple way to connect to the NT Server with a Domain Name using a
Media Center PC. I believe that you can pick the Domain button to enter a
Domain name instead of the Workgroup button to enter a Workgroup name. There
must be something unusual about how my office NT network is set up that makes
this all possible.

"Doug Knox MS-MVP" wrote:

The company you purchased the computer from is the one you should be complaining to. Microsoft made this information public.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/faq.mspx

Scroll down to General Information, 9th question:

Q. Can I connect a new PC running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to a work network or domain?

A. While you can access network resources on a work network or a domain, you cannot join a Windows XP Media Center 2005 PC to the domain. PCs running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 are designed specifically for home use. Professional features, specifically Domain Join and Cached Credentials (Credentials Manager for logins) are not included. As a result, you will be prompted for your login username/password to access network resources after a reboot or logging back into the PC. In addition, file shares or network resources set to require a domain-joined PC for access will not be available. Remote Desktop and Encrypting File System support are still included.

You new computer should have an instruction manual, or possibly and included help file that will tell you how to access the recovery partition, recovery CD/DVD set, and restore the computer to its "out of the box" condition.

Additionally, there are purported hacks out there that supposedly allow you to re-enable this capability.

The primary reason for not allowing joining to a domain was the introduction of the Media Center Extenders. Since they rely on the Fast User Switching portion of Windows XP. In a domain environment, Fast User Switching is disabled. If they allowed joining a domain, then people who didn't do their homework on the Extender devices would complain because it would only work when no one was logged into the host computer.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
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Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
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Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Jemima" <Jemima@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:BE6DCC6E-ADA5-4E6C-A3F2-F3AB35E3E683@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I just purchased a brand new computer with MCE 2005 and NEED to join my
domain because that is where all my files, and my children's homeschooled
programs, etc. are located. It is imperative. Last I had checked into it,
there was no problem with MCE and domain log in.

Now, I am stuck with a computer that does not have this ability as my new
school year is coming to a start and I need this capability. WHY on earth
would microsoft disable this?

I don't have a clue how to go about reloading the software to have a the
chance to change this during setup. Surely microsoft realizes that these
computers come with the os already installed and they are making what should
be a pleasant occasion filled with misery because the darn computer is
rendered useless for what we need it for.

WARN your customers about what your programs NO LONGER do because they may
believe they will be getting a functioning computer.

This is a joke and I am furious.

.