Windows 2000 Quick Fixes

Wrong workgroup or domain

If you specified the wrong workgroup or domain when you installed Windows 2000, or if you simply want to change your workgroup or domain after the fact, it’s an easy process. Changing workgroups has no real security impact and simply changes where in My Network Places your computer shows up. Changing domains, however, does have security ramifications because it places your computer in a different security context. Before you change domains, check with your network administrator to make sure you’re taking the right approach.

Change workgroup or domain

Whether you’re changing workgroup or domain, the process is much the same. You use the System Properties sheet for your computer to make the change:

1. Right-click My Computer and choose Properties.

2. Click the Network Identification tab.

3. Click Properties and in the Member Of group, select either Domain or Workgroup, depending on which type of entity you want to join.

4. In the associated text box, type the name for the workgroup or domain you want to join. If joining a domain, the domain must already exist. You can specify a new workgroup name to create and become the first member of that workgroup.

5. Click OK to apply the change.

You can also use the Network ID button on the Network Identification page to start the Network Identification Wizard, which will step you through the process of changing your domain or workgroup.

Tip

When changing domain, keep in mind that you must either already have a computer account in the ...