Microsoft KB Archive/836413

= You receive an &quot;unexpected error occurred&quot; error message when you try to access resources on a Windows-based network from your Macintosh computer =

Article ID: 836413

Article Last Modified on 12/3/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition
 * Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

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SYMPTOMS
When you use an Apple Macintosh computer that is running Mac OS X 10.2.x or later on a Microsoft Windows-based network, and you try to connect to local network resources, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

Sorry, the operation could not be completed because an unexpected error occurred (Error code -50).

When you try to join an Apple Macintosh computer that is running Mac OS X 10.2.x or later to a domain by using the Active Directory plug-in for Directory Access, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

An invalid Domain and Forest combination was specified. You should enter a fully-qualified DNS name for the domain and forest.

You receive these error messages when the Windows domain name uses the .local extension, and you try to connect to resources by using a fully qualified domain name. You can still connect to local or external network resources by using their IP addresses. Additionally, when you try to join an Apple Macintosh computer that is running Mac OS X 10.2.x or later to a domain by using the Active Directory plug-in for Directory Access, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

An invalid Domain and Forest combination was specified. You should enter a fully-qualified DNS name for the domain and forest.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because by default, Mac OS X treats any fully qualified domain name that uses the .local extension as a Rendezvous host. Rendezvous is an Apple networking technology.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, configure Mac OS X to look up domain names that use the .local extension by using standard Domain Name System (DNS) resolution in addition to Rendezvous. To do this, use the procedure that is mentioned in the &quot;107800: Mac OS X 10.3: How to Look Up '.local' Hostnames via Both Rendezvous and Standard DNS&quot; AppleCare Support article. To view this article, visit the following Apple Web site:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107800

Note The procedure that is mentioned in this article also applies to Mac OS X Jaguar (10.2.x).

Important The procedure that this article describes permits you to connect to resources on a .local domain by using the FQDN. However, for the Active Directory plug-in to work with a .local domain, you must update Mac OS X 10.3.2 or earlier to Mac OS X 10.3.3 or later.

For more information about updating to the latest version of Mac OS X, visit the following Apple Web site:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106704



STATUS
Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.



MORE INFORMATION
When you plan your network, avoid assigning your domain a name that uses the .local extension.

For more information and support for this problem, visit the following Apple Web site:

http://www.apple.com/support/

For more information about Rendezvous, visit the following Apple Web site:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/rendezvous/

For more information about the Multicast DNS feature of Rendezvous, visit the following Apple Web site:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107174

For more information about Multicast DNS, visit the following Multicast DNS Web site:

http://www.multicastdns.org

For information about how to contact Apple Computer Inc., click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Additional query words: SBS AD Macosx OSX Win2k Win2000 Win2k3 Win2003

Keywords: kbtshoot kbprb KB836413

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