Joining a computer to Active Directory (Windows XP)
From ctowiki
In order to use certain resources on campus, your computer must be joined to WSU's Active Directory. This allows you to log in to your Windows XP computer with your Network ID and password. This tutorial details how to join your computer to the Active Directory (or AD) domain.
Contents |
Before You Begin!
- Please note: Only computers running Windows XP Professional can be joined to Active Directory. Computers with XP Home or XP Media Center Edition lack the capability to join Active Directory. If you are a WSU student and need a copy of Windows XP Professional, you can download one for free from MSDNAA.
- If your computer is WSU-owned, please talk to your system administrator. These instructions are only for student owned computers that are used in campus offices.
- Make sure you know the username and password for the local administrator account on the computer before you begin.
- If this computer is a laptop, and you would like to authenticate using WSUNexus wireless, please follow the instructions Setting Up PPTP for XP/2000 to install a VPN client before beginning.
Joining a Computer
Finding/Changing Your Computer Name
| To add your computer to the AD domain, you must first change the computer’s name to match the WSU conventions. Click on the Start Button, and on Control Panel. Open the System Properties. |
| At this point, we will only be changing the computer name. WSU asks that your computer be named stu-networkid. If your network ID is too long, you can remove the stu- and just name your computer with your network ID (names cannot be longer than 15 characters). Click OK to change the name, and reset the computer when it prompts you. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO JOIN THE AD DOMAIN PROPERLY UNLESS YOU RESTART YOUR COMPUTER! |
Precreating the Computer
In order for a computer to be joined to AD, an entry for it must be precreated. To have an entry precreated, send an email to Mark Zocher with your name, department affiliation, network ID, and the name of your computer.
Joining the Domain
| Once your computer account has been pre-created, you can join the domain. Go back to the Computer Name tab in the System Properties (As described in the above steps). Change the “Member of” radio button to Domain, and type in AD.WSU.EDU and click OK
|
Logging In
| When you restart your computer, you will see the standard login box. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring up the login screen. To log in to the AD domain, type in your network id for the user, your password in the password box, and change the domain to AD. If you do not see the Domain box, click on the Options button. |
Allowing Wireless to Connect Before Login
If you are using wireless (or are off campus) and need to log in to your computer, you will need to authenticate with WSU VPN before you can continue. If you have set up the VPN dialer already (for WSUNexus wireless), you can check the box "Log in using dial-up connection" at the login screen. When you try and log in with your Network ID and password, the system will let you select a connection first (such as WSU VPN) and will connect before attempting authentication.
Permissioning Your Network ID as Administrator
By default, your new AD account will not have administrator access to your computer. To add someone in to your list, you must be logged in locally as your administrator (your account you have before you started this process). Make sure you are plugged in to a wired network connection (or that the WSU VPN connection is started) before you begin these steps.
 | To add your AD account in to the Administrator list, click on the Start menu-> Control Panel. Open the User Accounts Tool.
|
 | After that, click on Add… and type in ‘ad\networkid’ and press OK. Press OK on all open dialog boxes. |
Related Tutorials
Joining a computer to Active Directory (Windows Vista)