Solved Domain controller issue with Win8 and Server 2003...

SolidSonicTH

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Member
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Location
Florida
This is confusing. I've set up numerous computers on our domain before so I'm pretty well acquainted with the procedure.

So we upgraded a computer in our domain from XP to 8 so my manager could see if our software would work in 8. That much I got done just fine (put simply, it does).

The problem I'm having is that when I try to attach the computer to the domain, two things go wrong: first of all the network drives don't map. Not a big deal, I heard this was an issue with Windows 8 and logon scripts. I'd like to try to implement a Group Policy-based drive mapping system but Windows Server 2003 seems to be missing that capability (though supposedly that can be added back).

The other, more troubling issue is that when I restart the PC, it seems to lose any connection it had to the Active Directory Domain Controller. The first time you hook it onto the domain it's just fine (you can freely go in and out of the servers without providing new credentials) but if you restart it loses that. After a restart I can't log in except with credentials the PC already knows and trying to access the file shares on the servers prompts me for a password entry. I can rehook it into the domain by redoing the whole process from the start but then restarting it after that will just blank out the AD DC credentials again. Mapping the drives would be impossible if I can't maintain a connection to the Active Directory.

I pinged back the Windows 8 PC from the server side (which I logged into using Remote Desktop from the Windows 8 machine) so there's clearly communication happening. Is Windows 8 being rejected by the Active Directory for some reason? I looked on the AD list of PCs and when I select the Windows 8 computer it doesn't bring up an operating system version so it sounds like something is missing.

Anyway, some clarity here might be nice.

EDIT: Let me add an addendum: when we attach the computer to the domain, it gives us this error:

---------------------------
Computer Name/Domain Changes
---------------------------
Changing the Primary Domain DNS name of this computer to "" failed. The name will remain "[Our Domain]".
The error was:
[Something about not finding the domain controller.]
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

I kind of ignored this at first but I suppose it's worth reporting.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
I can't say for certain why it's forgetting the credentials and requires you to sign in each time, although that may be controlled by the Admin through the GPE.

As for the DNS problem, your problem may be different but I've seen similar complaints and apparently it helps to manually add the Domain's DNS servers to the IPv4 properties of the network adaptor you are trying to connect with.

Other connection problems with Server 03 can be solved by clicking on the link. This may help with the drive mapping problem.

http://www.eightforums.com/network-...8-windows-8-computer-cant-see-w2k-server.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
I applied those fixes in that link but that doesn't seem to help with the fact the PC can't stay in the domain after joining it.

I've joined numerous other PCs in our network to our domain in the past so I understand the procedure. We explicitly declare the DNS servers so that hasn't changed. It should know where to look for the domain controller but after joining the domain, it starts acting like it's not there.

The weird thing is if I put in a fake domain controller, it takes longer to realize it's fake than if I put in the real domain controller (it idles for a few seconds before returning that the domain controller is nonexistent; if I give it the actual domain name it instantaneously reports that it's not there).

EDIT: I'm thinking the problem is with our server. I reinstalled the whole OS (using the "Reset" option under Settings) and it still refuses to connect from a completely naked installation (no updates that might cause any difficulties). Is there some Windows Update that needs to be applied to Server 2003 to enable domain connectivity between it and a Windows 8 PC?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
I applied those fixes in that link but that doesn't seem to help with the fact the PC can't stay in the domain after joining it.

I've joined numerous other PCs in our network to our domain in the past so I understand the procedure. We explicitly declare the DNS servers so that hasn't changed. It should know where to look for the domain controller but after joining the domain, it starts acting like it's not there.

The weird thing is if I put in a fake domain controller, it takes longer to realize it's fake than if I put in the real domain controller (it idles for a few seconds before returning that the domain controller is nonexistent; if I give it the actual domain name it instantaneously reports that it's not there).

EDIT: I'm thinking the problem is with our server. I reinstalled the whole OS (using the "Reset" option under Settings) and it still refuses to connect from a completely naked installation (no updates that might cause any difficulties). Is there some Windows Update that needs to be applied to Server 2003 to enable domain connectivity between it and a Windows 8 PC?

If you performed a reset on this server it may have set it back to square one and it now requires you to reconfigure everything.

With Windows 8 a reset pretty much takes you back to square one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
No no, this is an enterprise server that does real tasks for our operation. I'd never run any kind of drastic change like that without consent.

I just reset the Windows 8 PC to see if it would erase an obstructing update but that was not the case.

The Win8 PC is a sandbox PC (it was SUPPOSED to become my computer but this domain issue has basically blocked that from happening) so we can format it and do whatever we want.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
No no, this is an enterprise server that does real tasks for our operation. I'd never run any kind of drastic change like that without consent.

I just reset the Windows 8 PC to see if it would erase an obstructing update but that was not the case.

The Win8 PC is a sandbox PC (it was SUPPOSED to become my computer but this domain issue has basically blocked that from happening) so we can format it and do whatever we want.

Ok good I thought you reset the server somehow.

I'm confused, is this Windows 8 Pro or basic/simple version?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
Pro. Otherwise the domain join feature would be absent.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
Pro. Otherwise the domain join feature would be absent.

Yes this is true and the Local security policy would be absent as well, and apparently it can't be hacked by creating D words in the registry, like were trying to do on another thread. :)

I'm really not sure why this particular machine appears to be vanishing from the Domain. Maybe it's time to reformat this machine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
I think I did that (a system reset is supposed to set the computer back to zero). The problem lies either not on this computer or with Windows 8 itself.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
My boss figured out how to solve it. Apparently we had to assign something as the primary DNS that we otherwise NEVER use as the primary DNS to make it join the domain properly. For some reason, this worked (I don't even think that computer IS a DNS server) and our Windows 8 PC now functions correctly (it even mapped drives via script, which is something I didn't expect to work in Windows 8).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
My boss figured out how to solve it. Apparently we had to assign something as the primary DNS that we otherwise NEVER use as the primary DNS to make it join the domain properly. For some reason, this worked (I don't even think that computer IS a DNS server) and our Windows 8 PC now functions correctly (it even mapped drives via script, which is something I didn't expect to work in Windows 8).

Having to change the DNS again, I've seen this before but it makes no sense, that's why I mentioned entering the DNS servers into IPv4 properties which is highlighted in the quote below. This seems to make a difference on some systems but I'm still not sure why it's not picking it up from the Domain server.

Maybe you can let us know where these DNS servers needed to be typed in and which DNS you had to use for this. Thanks for reporting back in. :)

I can't say for certain why it's forgetting the credentials and requires you to sign in each time, although that may be controlled by the Admin through the GPE.

As for the DNS problem, your problem may be different but I've seen similar complaints and apparently it helps to manually add the Domain's DNS servers to the IPv4 properties of the network adaptor you are trying to connect with.

Other connection problems with Server 03 can be solved by clicking on the link. This may help with the drive mapping problem.

http://www.eightforums.com/network-...8-windows-8-computer-cant-see-w2k-server.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
You just type in the DNS servers in the place you always visit (Adapter Properties->[Right click the adapter you want to change]->Properties->IPv4 Configuration). The bottom part of the pop-up box lets you assign DNS servers (make sure you tick the radio button to let you change the values in that area).

We do this for all the computers we add to the domain but to fix the Windows 8 PC we had to add a DNS server that's within our subnet, not the larger network we normally get our DNS assignments from (the DHCP server is one managed by the network we're a part of, not our own internal network, which also manages other smaller networks in the county government). I don't know if it's passing through our server to force this one to get its IP address from the county's DHCP but if it is that's a feature I wasn't aware was possible in Server 2003.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
Ok so the fix was to type in the DNS servers of the actual Domain subnet it's trying to connect with. Which was more or less what I was trying to say here. Thanks for clarifying this so everyone can use this information when they have a similar problem.


As for the DNS problem, your problem may be different but I've seen similar complaints and apparently it helps to manually add the Domain's DNS servers to the IPv4 properties of the network adaptor you are trying to connect with.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
Yes but as I said the computer we targeted to my knowledge doesn't hand out IP addresses.

There is something unquestionably different about Windows 8 that made our usual domain setup procedure not work this time around.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
I'd like to maybe look at this issue again.

I noticed that, though I can join the domain by using this DNS address, I can't access any PC beyond our firewall (which makes sense; if the PC is getting its IP address from a computer inside the firewall then it's going to be a part of that subnet). We have a couple PCs in our network that act as web servers for one reason or another and I won't be able to visit those computers unless I change my DNS setting BACK to the DNS server that wouldn't let me join the domain.

If I do this while I'm in the domain (by using the firewalled DNS address), then I stay in the domain as long as nothing severs the network link. However, if the network link is broken (say...shutting down the computer) without using the firewalled DNS server then I can't join the domain until I set it back to that address (it calls it a private network and not a domain network but switching it to the internal DNS address suddenly makes it join the domain).

Very strange how all this works.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro With Media Center x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    N/A
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750 (2.66 GHz x 4)
    Motherboard
    MSI P55-CD53
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1066 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    1GB XFX Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Planar PX2710MW (27")
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    128 GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD (Boot) ,2.99 TB Storage Space comprised of: 640GB Western Digital Black x2, 2TB Western Digital Black
    Case
    Raidmax Smilodon
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    (varies)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Notebook Mouse 4000
    Internet Speed
    10 Mb/s
I am very confused by this issue. I have the same problems you experienced on our new Windows 8 Pro PC. I changed the IPv4 Properties to use the specific DNS address but no luck. Could it be a conflict with our existing GPOs?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
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