XADM: Installation Does Not Work on Stand-Alone Windows 2000 Server-Based Computer (260401)

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to install Exchange Server 5.5 on a stand-alone Windows 2000 Server-based computer, the following error message may be displayed:

This computer must belong to a Windows NT domain before Microsoft Exchange can be installed.

CAUSE

This issue can occur because the computer that you want to install Exchange Server on must be a member of either a Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000 domain, and cannot be part of a workgroup.

A stand-alone server, by definition, is a computer that runs Windows 2000 Server but does not participate in a domain. A stand-alone server has only its own database of users, and it processes logon requests by itself. It does not share account information with any other computer and cannot provide access to domain accounts.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, add your Windows 2000 Server to an existing Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 domain:

On the desktop, right-click My Computer.
On the Network Identification tab, click Properties.
Under Member Of, click Domain.
Type the name of the domain that you want to join.

NOTE: You may be prompted for the user name and password of an account that has permissions to join the domain.
Click OK.
A message is displayed that states the following:
Welcome to the your_domain_name domain.
Click OK. You are prompted to restart the server to complete the process of joining the domain.

If you want to create a new domain with your Windows 2000 Server-based computer, you can run the dcpromo command (click Start, and then click Run). For additional information about the Dcpromo utility and the Windows 2000 Active Directory, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

238369 How to Promote and Demote Domain Controllers in Windows 2000