Vista Ultimate remove from domain?

converse

How do you change a vista ultimate laptop, which was original setup to connect to a domain/server, to be not connected to a domain or just on a local workgroup, without causing any issues, losing the ability to log on etc?

The laptop connects to a wifi router for internet access and is now the only computer which connects, because it was originally setup on a domain whenever the user tries to change her password, it fails, as it's trying to location the domain controller, so I assume all her files are waiting to resync with the server, which will never reappear.

Her housemates used to have a server, and set her laptop up for her so it connected via the server to share files. They are moving out and the server has already gone, so she now wants to ensure the laptop is secure and all traces of the domain connection removed and all her files safe, and login remaining intact.

She doesn't want to reinstall, as hasn't got the time (nor the knowledge), but just to change the system from looking for the non-existant domain controller, so she can change her password and ensure the laptop is secure, but without affecting the internet / wifi connection. She isn't techy savvy and lives a long way from me, and Vista isn't my thing!!

tasone

converse wrote: »

How do you change a vista ultimate laptop, which was original setup to connect to a domain/server, to be not connected to a domain or just on a local workgroup, without causing any issues, losing the ability to log on etc?

The laptop connects to a wifi router for internet access and is now the only computer which connects, because it was originally setup on a domain whenever the user tries to change her password, it fails, as it's trying to location the domain controller, so I assume all her files are waiting to resync with the server, which will never reappear.

Her housemates used to have a server, and set her laptop up for her so it connected via the server to share files. They are moving out and the server has already gone, so she now wants to ensure the laptop is secure and all traces of the domain connection removed and all her files safe, and login remaining intact.

She doesn't want to reinstall, as hasn't got the time (nor the knowledge), but just to change the system from looking for the non-existant domain controller, so she can change her password and ensure the laptop is secure, but without affecting the internet / wifi connection. She isn't techy savvy and lives a long way from me, and Vista isn't my thing!!

Yes you can do this, but you need to create a local user account FIRST, before removing from the domain.

the user account that she logs onto the laptop will need to have admin rights to the mahcine to do this.

(this is for xp, should be about the same for vista)
To remove from Domain,
Right click onto My Computer and select properties.
select the computer name option, and click on the rename computer/put on domain button.

and just put the computer into a workgroup.

reboot.

and log back in with the new created local account.

it will create a new profile for you, even if it is the same name of the other account.

you will need to setup the personal settings.


I personal think it is better to reinstall the machine to get rid of all the stuff from the domain, as you may have all sorts of policys pushed from the server to the laptop.

Andy

tasone

Ok, back home now, on my vista machine

To do this you need admin rights to the machine, or you need to log into the machine with a local admin account


To create account.
goto start menu, control panel,
clcik onto add or remove user account.
create a new user account.
(select administrator type, you can create normal accounts later)

To remove from domain
Right click on my computer and select properties,
click onto advanced system settings.

click onto the computer name tab.

click the change button.

and put the computer into a workgroup.

click ok, and reboot.

** ONLY REBOOT AFTER YOU HAVE CREATED A LOCAL USER ACCOUNT **

********************************************************
Points to note.

windows will create a new profile for any new account when logging on, even if you selected the same user name, if will add .workgroupname to the end of it.

you need admin permissions to do all of the above to make it work.

also, when in a domain the can "push" all sorts of policys to the computer, like windows updates details, what you can and cant do, a lot of it is hard to remove.

all settings saved under the domain user name, will need to be copied over to the local username, and some of the settings will need to be done again.

make sure nothing is encrypted, if it is, un-enctypted it first, like wise, make sute you got backup copies of everything you need.

and i stick with what i said before it is better to redone the laptop from the start and get it right, then what you are trying to do.

but whatever you do, make sure you have a backup copy of your data.....

Regards

Andy

converse

Andy, thanks very much, I hadn't got a Vista computer here to test on, I'll step her through it later on the phone and ensure all files are backed up first. Do you think all the wifi/network/internet connection will be unaffected by this, I'd assume so, unless it's specific to the login profile? No doubt the housemates haven't left any of the original connection details. I'd agree reinstalling is the best option, but it'll come down to me as she really isn't tech savvy.

tasone

converse wrote: »

Andy, thanks very much, I hadn't got a Vista computer here to test on, I'll step her through it later on the phone and ensure all files are backed up first. Do you think all the wifi/network/internet connection will be unaffected by this, I'd assume so, unless it's specific to the login profile? No doubt the housemates haven't left any of the original connection details. I'd agree reinstalling is the best option, but it'll come down to me as she really isn't tech savvy.

the network connections, and anything else that uses password will be in the profile.

so, i dont think it will keep the settings over to the new porfile, you will need to setup the wifi connection again, any other lan connection *should* be ok, as most will be set to default settings.

but it will be a good idea to double check the settings to make sure.

(start, control panel, view network stats and tasks, and in middle it will should you the type of network you have, click onto the ciew status.

then properties,

go down to the internet protocol (TCP/IPv4) select this, and click properties.

the data in here is what you need, it should be all set to obtation automatically, if not you need to copy the settings)

the wifi setting thier is no real easy way of getting them, she will know the connection password or not.

if not you will have fun trying to find it out, as you will not be able to get it from the computer, you will need to check the router for the details, which would be fun if you know what you are doing, but talking someone through it over the phone, now that will be fun.

Andy