Active Directory Domain Service not currently available

[Al S]

Trying to print to wireless Brother printer that was working perfectly, also lost communication with Ethernet connected HP laserjet. Get errors indicating "printer offline" and Netgear WIMDR3400v2 doesn't have a driver. These printers work from other computers on the LAN, and were working until recently. I think I installed a update to the Netgear Router, and that may have been the problem, but I do not know where to go now.

 

[GokAy]

Is the DNS set correctly? Check your IP settings (ipconfig). Did you lose any LAN functionality on that PC other than what you stated? Open network shares, Internet problems? How are you connected to the Netgear Router?

 

[ComputerGeek]

Active Directory Domain Service not currently available

You must have accidently changed your machine from a Workgroup to a Domain (and i'm guessing you're not running an AD Domain server on your LAN)

See http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/51711-workgroup-name-view-change.html. Change it back to a Workgroup. Look at another PC on your LAN for the workgroup name.

 

[GokAy]

Is it possible to join a domain without a domain controller?

 

[ComputerGeek]

A Domain controller runs Windows Server software and has Active Directory (AD) installed. AD provides a central database of user info including their id and password. vs machines defined as in a WorkGroup have all user credentials stored locally on the machine.

Example: You have 1,000 employees with PCs at their desks. You could define each PC in a Worgroup but then each PC must replicate the user credentials of everyone at the company allowed to logon to that machine. That quickly becomes a maintenance nightmare as people come/leave a company causing each PC user account database need be updated on the local machine.

Instead a central database of user info, is the better way to go. (ergo: Active Directory) And especially as companies grow (with as many as 100,000+ PCs no on the network) When a user logs on to a PC in a domain, PC sends user validation request over the network. It;s received by a Server running AD. AD validates user credentials and returns a security token to the PC allowing the user's PC session to begin.

Meaning: if a PC is in domain, user authentication fails when no domain controller with AD exists to service the request. You;d get "Active Directory Domain Service not currently available"