Setup your Log on to Domain automatically
One thing that really annoys me about windows is that when you add a machine to a domain the log on to domain defaults to “MachineName (This computer)”. This means that you then need to log into the machine under a domain account and then log off again if you don’t want to get a phone call from your users saying that their domain passwords dont work. This also occurs when you log into a machine using a local account to do some administration. Its such a time waster to have to login just to log out, especially if you are setting up multiple machines at a time.
By presetting the following key via a group policy object within active directory and assigning it to your computer Organisational Unit your computers always have domain name as default:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\DefaultDomainName (REG_SZ)
To do this you will need to setup a startup script under the computer policy section.
On your Computer Organisational Unit create a New Group Policy and call it DefaultDomainName.
Under Windows Settings -> Scripts, Right click on Startup and select Properties.
Click Show Files.
Now create the following two files within this folder.
A “DefaultDomainName.bat” containing:
%systemroot%regedit /s defaultDomainName.reg
A “DefaultDomainName.reg” file containing:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
“DefaultDomainName”=”YOURDOMAINNAME”
Close the folder and click Add on the Startup Properties window.
Click Browse and select the DefaultDomainName.bat file.
Click Ok -> Ok. Then close out of the Group Policy Editor.
When your computers under that Organisational Unit restart that policy should now be applied.
Tags: active directory, registry, Windows 2003, Windows XP
Uncategorized, Windows XP | Wayne | 
March 13, 2009 12:00 pm