Making Windows 2000 a SBS 4.5 Client
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by Andy Goodman
I could not believe that when I created my new client install disk from
Microsoft Back Office Small Business Server 4.5 and put it in the new Windows
2000 machine, setup told me since it had detected Windows 2000, I had to
manually configure the system. It told me to see the help file which of course
did not exist. No problem I thought, I will just install TCP/IP and join the
domain. Well that would not work either, the error message kept saying
conflicting credentials. How could this be, I am logged on as the
administrator? Well here is what I found out after many hours of banging my head
on the wall.
Windows 2000 calls the administrator account domainname.adminsitrator
however, SBS will not accept the qualified name in the join domain dialog box.
The only work around I have found is to create a new user on the SBS system with
admin privileges called anything other than administrator. Then run the new
client wizard and create a new NT computer account* using the new admin account.
Let the wizard create the setup disk but , DO NOT USE the disk it will create.
Log on to the new machine as the local administrator (not the new account) and
right click on "My Network Places" next choose properties. On the menu
bar pick Advanced and then Network Identification. On this screen click the
button labeled Properties. Now set the computer name to the name you used when
you ran the wizard and then choose member of domain. Fill in the SBS Domain and
use the credentials of the new account you just created. When the computer
reboots log on to the domain using the new account name and the SBS Client
install will proceed form the server scripts.
I have asked a number of Microsoft people to get the SBS Team to create a
patch for SBS but so far no luck. I could not even find Knowledgebase article
about it.
Good Luck, and Happy Computing.
* It is necessary to create the account using the wizard so SBS will create
all the install scripts on the server for your new computer. Even though you
will not use the setup disk you will use the server scripts once you force the
new computer onto the domain. Trademarks, Copyrights and Brand Names are property of their respective owners
Author and/or Publisher assumes no responsibility, use these suggestions and guidelines at
your own risk
