RIS Client Cannot Join the Earlier Type of Domain if the Computer Account Object Is Disabled (297871)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server SP2
Microsoft Small Business Server 2000

This article was previously published under Q297871

SYMPTOMS

If you attempt to install Windows 2000 Professional by using a prestaged or predetermined computer account while installing from a Remote Installation Server (RIS), the installation may not succeed. The computer may not successfully join the domain, and you receive the following error message:

An invalid domain has been specified.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the prestaged computer account object for which the client is trying to use is disabled in Active Directory Users and Computers.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, in Active Directory Users and Computers, enable or reset the computer account in question, and then restart Setup.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

If a computer is prestaged, but the computer account object is disabled, the Boot Information Negotiation Layer (BINL) service still responds to the request, which indicates that the domain specified is invalid even though the correct domain is specified during the use of an earlier type of domain join. This occurs typically because the user has left the domain, and BINL service is designed to answer in this scenario. Otherwise, the user must call the domain administrator to have the computer account object enabled, reset, or deleted to continue.

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	1/27/2006
Keywords:	kberrmsg kbprb KB297871