Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual, Second Edition

Joining a Domain

If you work in a corporation, the computer supplied to you generally has Windows XP already installed and joined to the domain, ready to go.

But if you ever have occasion to add a PC to a domain yourself, here’s how you go about it. (You can make your PC join a domain either during the installation of Windows XP Pro, or any time afterward.)

1. Log on using the local Administrator account.

   See Section 17.3 for details.

2. Choose Start→ Control Panel→ System. In the resulting dialog box, click the Computer Name tab (see Figure 19-1).

   You should now be able to see the names of your computer and any workgroup or domain it belongs to.

3. Click the Network ID button.

   The Network Identification Wizard appears.

4. Click Next to bypass the Welcome screen.

   The Connecting To The Network screen appears.

5. Click “This computer is part of a business network,” and then click Next.

   Now the wizard wants to know: “What kind of network do you use?”

6. Click “My company uses a network with a domain” and click Next.

   A Network Information screen appears. It lets you know that, before you can join a domain, you need both a domain user account and a computer account. Your network administrator should create and give these to you in advance.

7. Click Next. On the User Account and Domain Information page, enter the user account name and password supplied by your administrator, plus the name of the domain in which your account has been created.

   Remember this domain name; you’ll need it again later to log on. ...