Microsoft KB Archive/830069

= You receive the &quot;The target principal name is incorrect&quot; error message when you try to start Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows 2000 =

Article ID: 830069

Article Last Modified on 10/30/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

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SYMPTOMS
When you try to start Active Directory Users and Computers, you may receive the following error message:

The target principal name is incorrect.

If you run the Dcdiag diagnostic tool, you may receive output that is similar to the following:

* Connecting to directory service on server . [] LDAP bind failed with error 31. A device attached to the system is not functioning.



CAUSE
This problem may occur when the security channel is broken. The security channel is a communication session that a computer uses to communicate with its domain controller.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
 * 1) At the command prompt, type nltest /SC_CHANGE_PWD:, and then press ENTER.

Note Type the name of the domain where the computer account is kept instead of the  placeholder.
 * 1) Type netdom reset  /domain:, and then press ENTER.

Note Type the local computer name instead of the  placeholder. Type the name of the domain where the computer account is kept instead of the  placeholder.
 * 1) Restart your computer.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section of this article.

