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Sound/Animation Windows 2000 Prof
logging on to an NT4-Domain-Server

When starting up Windows 2000
(and you defined that users must identify themselves),
you will first need to press
the keys "Ctrl" , "Alt" and "Del" at
the same time to get the system to
start the logon process.
By default, just the boxes for the
Username and password are displayed
(and the system shows the name of the
user having last used the system).

More information is displayed when
using "Options > >"
When configured for Workgroup
networking, it will just display in addition
the checkbox for "log-on using dial-up
connection" and the possibility to
"Shutdown" the system without first
making a logon.


The Logon changes after the Windows 2000 system has "
Joined a Domain":

The simple version of the
"logon" screen is the same
as in the workgroup networking
The expanded version shows an
additional combo-box, from which
you can select either the name
of the domain or the name of the
local computer.

This allows you to select, whether you like to logon using the user-database of the domain-server
or the user-database of your local system (as used before joining the domain).


There are several reasons why you still need to logon using your local user-database,
the most important: The Administrator permission to be able to modify the setup / configuration
of the Windows 2000 system.

When you logon to the Domain, your username will NOT have any administrative permission
for the domain
(unless you are yourself the Domain administrator, but even then it is suggested that you connect to the
server without administrative rights to avoid accidental deletion of vital server data)
.
The domain security system is now also valid for the local Windows 2000 system, not allowing
to make changes to the setup / configuration.

If you need to make a change to the setup / configuration, you make a logon to the
Local user-database, allowing to make the logon as a user with administrative permissions.


Once you have made the logon to a
domain server and you check your
"Network Neighborhood" called
"My Network Places":

then compared to
workgroup-
networking
, an icon is missing:

So, I am checking the "Entire Network":

Nothing is displayed, so let's follow the advise:
"You may also view the entire contents of the network"

where I find:
Microsoft Windows Networks
and as part of the
Microsoft Network my
domain name
and as part of the domain
it shows my Domain server
with the shared resources.

I have no idea, why it requires
such a long detour to finally get to
the shared resources of the server
(compared to the direct access
of
workgroup networking).

To get a quick access to a shared resource on the server, it seems to be best to
map a network drive or to declare the server as a "Network Place":

The "Browse"-button allows to select
a shared resource on the server
That is translated to the
UNC-name of the network
resource.
Finished.
The shared resource of the server
is now available for direct access
in "My Network Places"

Why this detour to be able to locate a server resource ?
Just to check this, I reconfigured the Windows2000 system (in the properties of "My Computer")

to work again as a "Workgroup", defining as workgroup-name the name of the domain:

In workgroup-networking, I have
in "My Network Places" access to
"Computers Near Me" and have
quick access to the server.



Why the above detour for
members of the domain ?


if somebody knows a method
to be a member of a domain and
have "Computers Near Me"
displayed, please tell me !