Dns Error When Trying To Connect Pc To Domain

[davidelliott]

I have a server running Windows Server 2008, a PC running Windows XP Professional and a PC running Windows 7. I have managed to successfully join the XP machine to the Windows Server 2008 domain however with Windows 7 I've ran into a problem I am not sure how to fix.

The error is as follows: An attempt to resolve the DNS name of a domain controller in the domain being joined has failed. Please verify this client is configured to reach a dns server that can resolve dns names in the target domain.

If you could help me out, that would be great. If you are though, keep your post basic. I'm brand new to Windows Server operating systems.

Thanks a lot,
David.

 

[mmthomas]

Make sure that your Windows 7 machine is configured with a DNS server that is in the new 2008 domain. To check if it is, go to a command prompt and type "ipconfig /all". Under the Local Area Connection you should see one or two DNS server IP addresses listed. Make sure the first one is the IP address of a DNS server in your new 2008 domain. If it isn't, go to the Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings and right-click on your Local Area Connection and enter Properties. In the list on the Networking tab, go to Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and highlight it, then click the Properties button. Check "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter the IP address of a DNS server in your new 2008 domain.

If your DNS is already set correctly, what are you entering as a domain when you try to join the Windows 7 machine? If you are using the netbios domain name (e.g. MYDOMAIN), then try using your full dns name (e.g. MYDOMAIN.LOCAL, or MYDOMAIN.COM).

If you are still having problems, go back to a command prompt and type: nslookup
At the ">" prompt, enter your domain name (i.e. MYDOMAIN.LOCAL).
It should return the IP address of one of your domain controllers. If it doesn't, then there is still a DNS problem somewhere.

 

[davidelliott]

Make sure that your Windows 7 machine is configured with a DNS server that is in the new 2008 domain. To check if it is, go to a command prompt and type "ipconfig /all". Under the Local Area Connection you should see one or two DNS server IP addresses listed. Make sure the first one is the IP address of a DNS server in your new 2008 domain. If it isn't, go to the Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings and right-click on your Local Area Connection and enter Properties. In the list on the Networking tab, go to Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and highlight it, then click the Properties button. Check "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter the IP address of a DNS server in your new 2008 domain.

If your DNS is already set correctly, what are you entering as a domain when you try to join the Windows 7 machine? If you are using the netbios domain name (e.g. MYDOMAIN), then try using your full dns name (e.g. MYDOMAIN.LOCAL, or MYDOMAIN.COM).

If you are still having problems, go back to a command prompt and type: nslookup
At the ">" prompt, enter your domain name (i.e. MYDOMAIN.LOCAL).
It should return the IP address of one of your domain controllers. If it doesn't, then there is still a DNS problem somewhere.

If I enter the DNS in the Windows Server IPV4 settings, I think my internet will stop working because I don't think the DNS is setup correctly on the server. Do you think you could possibly guide me through the setup of that?

When I am joining the domain, I have no choice but to put: MYDOMAIN. If I put in MYDOMAIN.local, I get some DNS error.

 

[davidelliott]

Done all that now. Changed IPV4 settings and I have joined the domain. Thanks.

 

[mevansirl]

Hi David,

A point to note (assuming you are using dynamic IP on your network) it would be a good idea to log into your DNS server on your router or system and set DNS1 to the IP of your server box, you can then either configure your internet DNS on the server OR config it as DNS2 or DNS3 and so on in the router config.

Hope this helps
M