OUr primary DC is a Windows 2003 server but the forest schema has been modified for 2008 R2 servers. We have a 2008 R2 on the domain as well. We just installed a 2012 R2 Standard server on the network but when we try to join the domain all we get is "The following error occurred attempting to join the domain "xxxXXXXXxxx". Cannot complete this function."

Not very helpful or descriptive so it's tough to troubleshoot. Any ideas WHY we cannot get a 2012 server on the network? We're not trying to make it a DC...just a domain member.

Start with validating the basics:  Ensure the 2012 server pointing to valid internal DNS servers.  Ensure it is able to resolve the domain name.  See if a reboot makes any difference if you haven't already as there could be pending operations. 

Out of curiosity, what is the domain functional level?  I'm not sure if this makes a difference with member servers but would need to double-check.  2003 functional level will definitely be in the clear.  

Hi,

AS said by Dirk Popelkatry try before checking your internal DNS 

If the DNS is ok , try to check  the solution in this thread: 

Problem to join server to domaine

Just to rule out domain functional level:

"Functional levels determine the available Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) domain or forest capabilities. They also determine which Windows Server operating systems you can run on domain controllers in the domain or forest. However, functional levels do not affect which operating systems you can run on workstations and member servers that are joined to the domain or forest."

http://technet.microsoft.com/library/understanding-active-directory-functional-levels(v=WS.10).aspx

So domain functional level should not matter.

It turns out there was a dead DC that never got removed from AD. ONce we forced the removal all went through OK. Thanks to everyone for their help!

• Marked as answer by Vivian_WangMicrosoft community contributor, Moderator Tuesday, January 14, 2014 6:13 AM

Hi,

Glad to hear that the issue was resolved.

Thanks for your good sharing.

Have a nice day.

Regards.

a reboot sufficed for me.