Joiniig Vista Business to Windows 2000 Server Domain

at work we're still using a Windows 2000 server as our DC. We have rolled
out our first Vista laptop, and we're having trouble getting it to join the
domain.

When I try adding the computer to the domain I get the following error: "The
format for the specified network name is invalid".

I am typing in the domain name correctly, and the computer name is simply
the user's last name.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Although the error points in a Name Format Problem, this error is usually the
result of DNS issues.. check your DNS settings and make sure you are
pointing it to your DNS server address.... I think this will solve your
problem.. if not, of course, let us know..
--
FE
Wm P
MVP Microsoft Networking
MCP | CCNA | A+



"mpancha" wrote:

> at work we're still using a Windows 2000 server as our DC. We have rolled
> out our first Vista laptop, and we're having trouble getting it to join the
> domain.
>
> When I try adding the computer to the domain I get the following error: "The
> format for the specified network name is invalid".
>
> I am typing in the domain name correctly, and the computer name is simply
> the user's last name.
>
> Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance.
>
>

"mpancha" <mpancha@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F898ECD7-C402-4AAB-967B-76814A330EC2@microsoft.com...
> at work we're still using a Windows 2000 server as our DC. We have rolled
> out our first Vista laptop, and we're having trouble getting it to join
> the
> domain.
>
> When I try adding the computer to the domain I get the following error:
> "The
> format for the specified network name is invalid".
>
> I am typing in the domain name correctly, and the computer name is simply
> the user's last name.
>
> Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Is your DNS server's IP the same as your Win 2K machine's? If not,
try that. It worked for us.

Tom Lake

Sounds like name resolution issue. Find the DC and Vista IP addresses, an
then do ping -a IP addresses. Post back the results. Or check this link

The format for the specified network name is invalid
http://chicagotech.net/netforums/vie...hp?p=4996#4996

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com


"mpancha" <mpancha@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F898ECD7-C402-4AAB-967B-76814A330EC2@microsoft.com...
> at work we're still using a Windows 2000 server as our DC. We have rolled
> out our first Vista laptop, and we're having trouble getting it to join
> the
> domain.
>
> When I try adding the computer to the domain I get the following error:
> "The
> format for the specified network name is invalid".
>
> I am typing in the domain name correctly, and the computer name is simply
> the user's last name.
>
> Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance.
>
>

I manually set the IP information, including specifying the DNS.

The DNS is the same address as the DC.

Results to Ping to the DC (also the DNS):

Pinging neo.nt_network.com [192.168.1.5] with 32 bytes of data:



Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time=57ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128



Ping statistics for 192.168.1.5:

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:

Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 57ms, Average = 14ms

Underscore, eh? (_)

Although the use of the underscore (_) in DNS host names or in host (A)
resource records has been traditionally prohibited by DNS standards, the use
of underscores in service-related names--such as those used for service
locator (SRV) resource records--has been proposed to avoid naming collisions
in the Internet DNS namespace. For more information, see DNS RFCs.

That may be your problem right there...
--
FE
Wm P
MVP Microsoft Networking
MCP | CCNA | A+



"mpancha" wrote:

> Results to Ping to the DC (also the DNS):
>
> Pinging neo.nt_network.com [192.168.1.5] with 32 bytes of data:
>
>
>
> Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time=57ms TTL=128
>
> Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
>
> Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
>
> Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
>
>
>
> Ping statistics for 192.168.1.5:
>
> Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
>
> Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
>
> Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 57ms, Average = 14ms

I wish you posted back with the result of ping -a problematic computer ip
address from other computer. Any errors if using nslookup on the computer?

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com


"mpancha" <mpancha@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:09834060-A486-4EC4-9AE7-93D015E8B4AF@microsoft.com...
> Results to Ping to the DC (also the DNS):
>
> Pinging neo.nt_network.com [192.168.1.5] with 32 bytes of data:
>
>
>
> Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time=57ms TTL=128
>
> Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
>
> Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
>
> Reply from 192.168.1.5: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
>
>
>
> Ping statistics for 192.168.1.5:
>
> Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
>
> Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
>
> Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 57ms, Average = 14ms