Joining a computer to a domain is a crucial task for network administrators and IT professionals managing enterprise environments. A domain is a network where all user accounts, computers, printers, and other security principals are registered with a central database called Active Directory (AD). This allows for centralized management and security. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to join a Windows computer to a domain using both graphical user interface (GUI) and command-line methods.

Examples:

Joining a Domain via GUI

1. Open System Properties:

   • Press Win + X and select "System".
   • Click on "Change settings" under "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings".

2. Change Settings:

   • In the System Properties window, click on the "Computer Name" tab and then click "Change".

3. Enter Domain Information:

   • In the "Computer Name/Domain Changes" window, select "Domain" and enter the name of the domain you want to join.
   • Click "OK".

4. Provide Credentials:

   • You will be prompted to enter the credentials of a user account that has permission to join the computer to the domain. Enter the username and password, and click "OK".

5. Restart the Computer:

   • After successfully joining the domain, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Click "OK" and then restart your computer to apply the changes.

Joining a Domain via Command Line

Using Command Prompt (CMD)

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

   • Press Win + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".

2. Run the Netdom Command:

   • Use the netdom command to join the domain. Replace DomainName, UserName, and Password with your actual domain name, user name, and password.

   netdom join %computername% /domain:DomainName /userd:UserName /passwordd:Password

3. Restart the Computer:

   • After the command executes successfully, restart your computer to apply the changes.

   shutdown /r /t 0

Using PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:

   • Press Win + X and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)".

2. Run the Add-Computer Command:

   • Use the Add-Computer cmdlet to join the domain. Replace DomainName, UserName, and Password with your actual domain name, user name, and password.

   Add-Computer -DomainName "DomainName" -Credential DomainName\UserName -Restart

3. Provide Credentials:

   • A prompt will appear asking for the password. Enter the password and press Enter.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Ensure Network Connectivity: Make sure the computer can communicate with the domain controller.
• Correct DNS Settings: Verify that the DNS settings are correctly configured to resolve the domain name.
• Sufficient Permissions: Ensure the user account used has the necessary permissions to join the computer to the domain.