Re: force xp domain member to drop from domain?

This is what the windows look like:

http://www.my508.com/images/desktop.gif

When I click the "workgroup" radio and type in a workgroup name (any string), and click "OK", the modal pops up as you can see in the screen cap. No credentials prompt, just the error, and no way to proceed except to "OK" back to the previous window.

"Bruce Sanderson" <bsanders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:u5nSol2FJHA.6132@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Don't know about any registry entry, but, with Vista in this scenario, you have to key something into the username and password box to escape from the credentials dialog box; you can key anything (e.g. username: a, password: a), but you have to key something before clicking OK.

I don't have an XP SP3 installation handy to try this on, but you might try that - key something in each of the username and password boxes on the credtials dialog box, then click OK.

I've changed many computers from being in a domain to being in a workstation when the domain controller for the domain is not available (shut down, domain abandonded, computer not network connected) and in every case, the Domain box is enabled (not greyed out), so your situation is unusual. I looked for a setting that might affect this issue, but have not found one. I also tried it at home (before sending my earlier post) in a set of virtual machines (Windows Server 2003 domain controller, Windows XP SP3 client). I joined the XP SP3 computer the domain, then shutdown both the domain controller and the XP client. Then started just the XP SP3 client, logged on as the local Administrator, went into System Properties, Change... and the Domain dialog box was enabled. Selected the Workgroup radio button, keyed "WORKGROUP", clicked OK, clicked OK on the credentials box - this was successful; after the restart the computer was no longer a domain member.

Although I too would like to know what is causing the particular issue you've encountered and what, if anything can be done to fix or workaround it. But sometimes pursuing these things becomes too much effort and its appropriate to just start over - re-image or re-install or whatever. There may be several things "wrong" with that Windows installation that, even if you get over this one, will create other problems in the future, so that's something to consider also.

--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/
It's perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.


"geekyguy" <geeky@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:%239a8vVdFJHA.768@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Bruce Sanderson" <bsanders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:OKtu0QIFJHA.3408@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Even if there is no domain controller available, one can usually switch a computer from being a domain member to being a workgroup member. I've done this many times, including today to try to reproduce your situation, which I can't seem to do - the Domain name text box is always enabled (not greyed out).

How long has the old domain been shutdown - unavailable?

Several weeks at this point.

After you select the Workgroup radio button and key a Workgroup name, click OK.

Does the dialog box for credentials appear?

Yes

If so, just click OK without keying anything in any box, then click OK on the Computer Name Changes box. Does this work?

No...each time I click OK in the modal, it closes and I'm returned to the previous window, but if I click "OK" there the modal with the "domain controller could not be contacted" pops back up. The only way out is to click "cancel".

Unless there is a specific reason that prevents you from doing so, the simplest thing to do may be to simply re-install Windows XP or re-image the workstation.

I'm more interested as to why I can't escape this modal...is there something in the registry that can be changed?

--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.



"geekyguy" <geeky@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:OxxY%23rbEJHA.4784@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Paul Bergson [MVP-DS]" <pbergson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:O82bgEbEJHA.768@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You don't even need to remove it if you are having troubles. Just join it to the new domain and go back to your old domain and just delete the computer object from ADUC.


Thanks for both your comments. Problem is, I'm logging in as the local Admin, but when I go to "my computer -- computer name" and click "change" the "member of" has "domain" selected with the old domain, but the entry field is greyed out. And if I click the radio button next to "workgroup" and enter a name like "workgroup" and hit "OK", there's a delay and then an error that the "domain controller for the old domain could not be contacted" (and of course the old domain doesn't exist anymore).

It's like I don't have sufficient privileges to make the change, but I'm logged in as the local administrator?


--
Paul Bergson
MVP - Directory Services
MCTS, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, Security+, BS CSci
2008, 2003, 2000 (Early Achiever), NT4

http://www.pbbergs.com

Please no e-mails, any questions should be posted in the NewsGroup
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"geekyguy" <geeky@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:ub798pPEJHA.616@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi: I have an xp sp3 computer that was a member of a domain that no longer exists. I'm trying to assign it to a new domain by changing it's membership to "workgroup", but I get an error that the domain controller could not be contacted for the old domain.

How can I force it drop it's old domain affiliation? I'm logged in as administrator right now.

TIA







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