Windows 7 joining/leaving and rejoining a domain

[MartinDay007]

I have a number of new Window 7 laptops and have joined the company domain with no problems (SBS running Windows 2003).

When I was on the domain I set up a number of printers by browsing the server \mainserver\\OkiC9650 and finding the printer and it and correctly installed the drivers and provided me with full functionality for the printer.

However, if for some reason I have to leave and then rejoin the domain, and I don't delete the printers first, when I rejoin the domain the printers are no longer showing (as one might expect), and when I try to add them again, or add anything connected to the \mainserver\\OkiC9650 I get an error.

“Windows cannot connect to the printer.” Operation failed with error 0x00000006

I don't think it is anything to do with the printer as I can't connect to any printer in this way.

Although the 0x00000006 indicates a permission problem it is not that, or a setting problem, as it works the first time and no changes are made other than leaving and rejoining the domain.

It has happened with four laptops, two different makes, and three different models. So not likley to be the laptop or the manufacturer.

I don't think it is a Server problem as I have tried leaving the domain, and deleting the Computer name from the Active Directory, and even tried giving the joining computer a different name between leaving and joining. I was hoping if it was recognised as a new computer then it would work at least once more - but still no good.

I am therefore left with the assumption that the problem is with Windows 7, there must be some sort of reference not being cleared that results in a 'duplication' type error when I try the same action again.

If I delete the printer first, before leaving the domain, I can rejoin the domain again and setup the printer correctly, the problem is when I don't delete the printer first, I can never then connect to the printer in this way (I can connect directly to the printer if I use the printers IP address).

I am convinced the problem is with Windows 7 - can anyone suggest where the \mainserver\\ reference is being held in Windows 7, or if I am barking up the wrong tree if they could suggest what tree I should be barking at?

Just to confirm I don't experience any other problems when rejoining the domain.

If I could configure the laptop PC so that it appeared like a new laptop joining for the first time it would get over the problem.


Thanks

Martin
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[chev65]

Check the value of the DNS setting in the properties of IPv4 in the Properties of the Win 7 NIC. Make sure it's pointed at and only at your domain DNS server, probably the 2k3 SBS server. You don't need to use a static IP for this, just enter the servers DNS manually in the IPv4 properties of the Win 7 machine. I'm not sure why but this seems to fix Domain connection problems with Windows 7.

 

[MartinDay007]

Hi Chev65, Thanks, for the reply, I did try what you suggested but it didn't help. Just to confirm I don't have any problems rejoining the domain and everything else works as it should (well as far as I can see); it is simply that when I try and connect the printers again nothing attached to the server, i.e. \mainserver\\ will connect, whereas it did the first time, and will if I remember to delete the printers first before I leave the domain. For new laptops I now just make sure that if I am going to leave the domain that I delete the printers first, but I have a few laptops now where I haven't done that and I now can't connect to printers, some of those I can get round by connecting directly using an IP connection, others it is a real problem.

 

[chev65]

Try adding the printer as a local printer using the printers IP. Then try adding a shortcut to the local printer.

 

[MartinDay007]

Once again thanks Chev65, I can confirm that in some cases I can add printers using an IP and/or as a local port, but there are some output devices where the policy is set on the server so I lose functionality, in other cases, the output device must go through the server so it is not an option.