Knowledge Base

Client Networking Setup Does Not Work if DHCP Server is Removed

Article ID: 225383

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2001

APPLIES TO

Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.5

This article was previously published under Q225383

SYMPTOMS

When the client setup disk created by the Setup Computer Wizard is run on a client, the following error message may be displayed:

The domain controller for this domain cannot be located.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the DHCP Server service is removed from the BackOffice Small Business Server (SBS) computer and static IP addresses are used on the network. The client setup disk created by the Setup Computer Wizard do not work. The client setup disk configures TCP/IP to use a DHCP server, even though the DHCP server has been disabled.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem:

Windows NT

Create the client setup disk through the Setup Computer Wizard as normal. Do NOT use this floppy disk on the client. You must create the floppy disk to correctly set up the logon script for the user of this system.
Manually add this computer to your SBS domain. To do this:
1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network.
2. Click the Identification tab, and then click Change.
3. Change the name of the computer to the desired name.
4. Restart your computer, repeat steps 1 and 2, and then change the domain name.
5. Restart the computer again, and this computer is now a member of the domain.
Make sure the user for this workstation is a member of the local administrators group on the workstation. Otherwise, the following error message is displayed:

You are not a member of the Administrators group for this computer. You must be a
member of the Administrators group in order to install applications and make changes to
this computer.

To make a user a member of the Administrators group, exit and log-in using an
Administrator account. Then use the User Manager program to add a user to the
Administrators group for this computer.

To add a user to the Administrators group:
1. Log on to this workstation using the Administrator account.
2. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, and then click User Manager.
3. Under Groups in the lower pane, double-click Administrators.
4. Click Add, click the name of the user you want to add to this group, click Add, and then click OK.
5. You now see this user listed as a member of the Administrators group. Click OK and exit User Manager.
Restart the workstation, and log on as the desired user. The client setup then continues normally from this point.

Windows 95/98/Millennium Edition

Create the client setup disk through the Setup Computer Wizard as normal. Do NOT use this floppy disk on the client. You must create the floppy disk to correctly set up the logon script for the user of this computer.
Manually add this computer to your SBS domain. To do this:
1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network.
2. Click the Configuration tab, and make sure Client for Microsoft Networks and TCP/IP are installed.
3. Double-click TCP/IP for your network card, and set the Configure TCP/IP option to use your IP address scheme. Click OK.
4. Double-click Client for Microsoft Networks, and select the "Log on to Windows NT Domain" checkbox. Also, specify the SBS domain in the "Windows NT Domain" window. Click OK
5. Click the Identification tab, and change the computer name appropriately. Also, change the workgroup name to the SBS domain name. Click OK, and then click Yes to restart your computer.
After the workstation restarts, log on as the desired user. The client setup will continue normally from this point.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Small Business Server 4.5.

Additional query words: smallbiz

Keywords: kbbug kbnofix KB225383

Microsoft KB Archive/225383

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