Windows 7 cannot see server - GOING NUTS!!

Hey guys, hope you can help, because I've been pulling my hair out for 2 days now!

Just installed my first Windows 7 PC. It is the 64 bit ver.

Works like a charm, very impressive BUT.......

I cannot get it to attach to our DOMAIN. It does NOT see the server.

INFO:

We have a windows 2003 server. 5 PCs are attached to it through a hub. Internet
is through a cable router which is attached to the hub. The cable router acts as a DHCP server, and the new Windows 7 machine has an IP address within the scope.

All 5 of the PCs are Win XP and have no problem attaching to the domain and the server can be seen simply by Opening Explorer then going to My Network Places.

The Windows 7 PC found the Internet immediately and there is no problem surfing the web.

On the Windows 7 machine it was defaulted to Home Network. When I try to change it to a DOMAIN, no matter what I do it comes back with "The Network Path was not found".

I also use the wizard which tries to connect to the domain through different means
and while it does come up for username and password it still rejects it in the end the same errors as above.

I also have tried all of this both with the firewall enabled and disabled. At present I have the firewall fully disabled.

I've tried everything....used the workstation username, the administrator name....all the same results.

Now here's the weird part, if I fiddle around enough in the network discovery window for whatever reason after a while suddenly the server and the other XP computers appear on the network. I have not been able to find out what it was that I was doing that click this or if for some reason there's something that just triggered it.

However once this happens if I reboot the computer it goes back to the way it was and I have to go through this all over again clicking things and refreshing in the network window until suddenly it starts again and then I can use the network all until it might disappear at some other point.

Still even when the network can be seen and the server can be seen I still cannot change from workgroup to domain.

Pinging:

I can ping the server by the IP number and the server name.

I can paying an XP workstation by its name or IP address but only if I turn the xp workstation firewall off.

Reading on some of the other forms somebody suggested to turn off the network adapter Internet protocol version 6 under the adapter properties. I did this but it didn't really have any effect that I could tell.

However one thing that seem to make it easier for me to see the network was by going into the IP version 4 properties and clicking on the "use the following DNS server address" and inserting the server's IP address. I also went into the advanced settings to the DNS and insert it again the server's IP address also added under DNS suffix for this connection the name of the domain.

I am completely out of ideas at this point I do not understand why I can't change to a domain name, nor why I cannot see the server without a lot of clicking and hitting the keyboard.

If anyone has any ideas I would greatly appreciate the help thank you in advance.

Have you considered modifying the hosts file:
1) go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
2) Open "hosts" in notepad
3) Add a line in it with your server name and ip-address (an example should be there to look at).

Not sure this will help but it solved a similar issue for me with a Windows Home Server.

What Windows version do you have, Mike?

zzz2496

Try 3 things (one at a time):

1) Hit Windows+ pause/break to open the system information window. Under the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click change settings.
Change the domain and workgroup names to match the XP Computers.
Any change?

2) Open the network and sharing center and go to advanced sharing settings. Make sure network discovery is turned ON and password protected sharing is OFF.

3) Open the network and sharing center and click on adapter properties. Right click on the connection you are using for internet/server hub and click on properties. Under IPv4, select configure. Make sure it is set to receive IP and DNS from host, not using it manually.

~Lordbob

Is the server, client computer(s) and modem all connected to the hub, did I read it right?

You mention that the cable modem provides DHCP, but it would be providing DNS too probably. Does the server have DHCP / DNS installed? Could that be causing some sort of confusion?

A hub basically spams all its data to all available ports. Your Windows 7 computer connection description sounds like it is directing its route through the hub to the router. Perhaps your cable modem is filtering out this hub spam. So when your Win 7 computer reaches the hub for its DHCP/DNS queries-- it does not find the domain (because of the filtering?)

Do all the devices obtain their IP from the modem and what IP range is it set on?

I haven't done networking in 6 months, so I'm getting a little clueless there as each day passes

Maybe useful link: Cannot Network Windows 7 with Windows XP - Networking & Security

Also, you could try installing this on the XP and server machine: Download details: Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) Responder (KB922120)

Ok - tried all the recommendations.....nothing! Still the same problem.

I Have the Windows 7 64 bit version. It is completely up to date, just checked and there are no new updates.

While I was going through your suggestions, of course.....as if it "jostled" something, the network suddenly appeared!

But after rebooting....GONE....and back to the same thing.

problems:

WHY CANT i CHANGE FROM WORKGROUP TO DOMAIN? NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK

BOBTRAN - WHEN I TRY TO SAVE THAT FILE AFTER MAKING THE CHANGE, IT SAYS I DO NOT HAVE RIGHTS.
MY ACCOUNT IS AN ADMINISTRATOR EQUIVELANT SO I DONT UNDERSTAND.

Could this be a clue...and related to the problem? Perhaps I DO NOT have sufficient rights.

I tried to log in as administrator but the only account name is the one I gave it when I installed Windows 7.

How do I log in as ADMINISTRATOR?????

Nearly bald now!!!!

Start up the command prompt, then type net user YOURUSERNAMEHERE

Near the bottom it will list which groups your account is a member of.

If I recall right, holding down the shift key at startup should reveal any hidden accounts.

Have you tried disabling UAC in Windows 7. reboot, then making the changes that Bob suggested?

mike786 said:

Ok - tried all the recommendations.....nothing! Still the same problem.

I Have the Windows 7 64 bit version. It is completely up to date, just checked and there are no new updates.

While I was going through your suggestions, of course.....as if it "jostled" something, the network suddenly appeared!

But after rebooting....GONE....and back to the same thing.

problems:

WHY CANT i CHANGE FROM WORKGROUP TO DOMAIN? NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK

BOBTRAN - WHEN I TRY TO SAVE THAT FILE AFTER MAKING THE CHANGE, IT SAYS I DO NOT HAVE RIGHTS.
MY ACCOUNT IS AN ADMINISTRATOR EQUIVELANT SO I DONT UNDERSTAND.

Could this be a clue...and related to the problem? Perhaps I DO NOT have sufficient rights.

I tried to log in as administrator but the only account name is the one I gave it when I installed Windows 7.

How do I log in as ADMINISTRATOR?????

Nearly bald now!!!!

Click to expand...

Windows 7 have several editions. Each edition have 2 binary versions, one for 32bit and 64bit. You need to use Windows 7 "Professional", or Windows 7 "Enterprise", or Windows 7 "Ultimate" to be able to connect to a domain... Thus back to my question, which version do you have?

Wikipedia link: Windows 7 editions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

zzz2496

Edit: I hope you aren't using any "Home" editions...

How long do you wait, it can take up to 30 minutes for the server to appear on your network.

USING Windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit ver

Fair enough on the wait time, but once it is in there it should not go away. If I reboot, or just try to use the network later (after it appears) it will dissapear again without any reason.

I was able to disable UAC and make the changes Bob suggested.

Unfortuantely still does not work.

Appearing and disappearing network nodes are symptoms of master browser service trying to be a "master"...

Anyway, here's what you can do:
1. Put the domain controller's IP address in your TCP/IP v4 DNS entry (if you haven't done so), make sure that the domain controller's IP address is at the top of the DNS list.
2. Control Panel -> System -> Advanced system settings -> Computer Name tab -> click "Change" button -> click the bullet on "Domain", put in the Domain name, hit OK. If everything goes well, it should ask for the domain administrator credentials...

zzz2496

mike786 said:

Fair enough on the wait time, but once it is in there it should not go away. If I reboot, or just try to use the network later (after it appears) it will dissapear again without any reason.

Click to expand...

If you reboot it will have to rediscover the server but it should be available in under 1 minute if has been discovered in the current session.

zzz2496 said:

Appearing and disappearing network nodes are symptoms of master browser service trying to be a "master"...

Anyway, here's what you can do:
1. Put the domain controller's IP address in your TCP/IP v4 DNS entry (if you haven't done so), make sure that the domain controller's IP address is at the top of the DNS list.
2. Control Panel -> System -> Advanced system settings -> Computer Name tab -> click "Change" button -> click the bullet on "Domain", put in the Domain name, hit OK. If everything goes well, it should ask for the domain administrator credentials...

zzz2496

Click to expand...

Glad you beat me to this... I was just about to give the same response... Went back to assure that the Server 2003 was acting as a DC, hit refresh and here was your post!

I agree that this should do it...

Let's see what happens now!

UPDATE - Won't the Domain require a registered user name??? otherwise what would be the point of Domains... so the user name should also be setup in the DC, and then when he joins the domain it will allow him to... Other wise it should lock him out after a bit IIRC. Or did I miss the part where he setup his user in the DC... Back to re-read the entire thread....

I noticed above you said the network location was set as Home network Change it to Work this will by default keep network discovery on. Open sharinge center and under active networks click the network type of the connection (Public, Home, Work).

Though I would suggest you get a Switch instead of a Hub for making a mini domain, and manual configuration for addresses since you have so few.

If you are the only named account on that machine you are an administrator. Windows requires two administrator accounts to exist, the dafault system administrator account is disabled by default. you can bring it on throught the Net Use command or through Local Security Policy. To modify most files in the Windows or Program files directories you just need to give your okay to a UAC or right-click open the file as admin.

Open CMD as administrator. >Net User Administrator /Active
-OR-
Start ORB, Search secpol.msc . Expand Local Policies, click on Security Settings, in the right pane the first setting is for if the administrator account is active on disabled.

And... I believe it matters how many users the Server 2003 is licensed for... if it's only 5, try shutting down one system.

Seeing the network and getting bumped could be a symptom of 'unauthorized user' being alowed in, then locked out...

Another source of troubleshooting info are the Server 2003 log files. You need to get in there and see what it is telling you as well.

I have worked domains where only particular PC's are allowed in GP... and if you aren't in the list, it's an issue. So - Is this a security thing you are pulling your hair out over?

Or is it a very basic domain with minimal security and basic GP's applied?

HTH

OH MY GOD....IT WORKED!!!!!!!

As soon as I put in the server IP address in the DNS Server Address list under IP Ver 4, and then went back and tried to change the DOMAIN name....BAM!!! Just like that!

I cant believe I didnt hit THIS particular ORDER of things in the 1,000,000 things I tried!

Thanks EVERYONE, Awesome group Troubleshooting....and I guess zzz2496 you get the prize!

(I turned the firewall back on and the UAC back to where it was, and still works...whew!!!)

Great !!

zzz2496

Attaboy zzz2496, I'd rep you again but I haven't given rep to enough other people since I gave you rep the last time. I understand the limitation but darn-it it makes it hard to reward some people enough.

So

mike786, Sorry...I should have told you to be logged in as "The" administrator (Safe mode or activate the Administrator acct and switch user to it) to modify the hosts file. Glad you got things working.