Vista Error "Trust relationship between this workstation & primary domain failed"
Hi, I'm running a small network at home with 3 clients, all XP SP2, 1 domain controllerwhich isServer 2K3. Everything works perfectly. Just installed Vista on a partition of 1 client, still have XP installed on C:and both worked fine. I added the Vista OS to same the Domain and authenticated, could browse other PC,s, internet,etc.. Then when I went back to XP and tried logging in, I had an error msg about the domain controller. So I logged on locally and removed & re-added it to the domain with the necessary reboots in between. I could then log back on to the domain. Now the problem is that I cannot log in to Vista and receive the above error msg in the Subject Field. I foolishly didn't create a local administrator account to log on locally to Vista and it cannot load the Domain admin account. Firstly what has caused this and is there anyway to log on to Vista? If there isn't it doesn't matter, I can reinstalled Vista on the same partition but dont want to have to be removing and re-adding from the domain each time I swap OS. Cannot find any help when dual-booting involves a domain. Thanks
July 9th, 2006 6:01pm

The Vista installation is trying to connect into the domain with old computer account credentials.The local 'true' Administrator account is disabled by default - but you can logon locally witha user name that you created at the end of setup and rejoin the computer into domain. If you have deleted this account like me, there's last hope - reboot into Safe mode and logon with DOMAIN\Administrator account and correct password. This time it doesn't use cached domain computer account and you can rejoin domain. Hope it helps! Olda
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September 13th, 2006 10:46am

Another thing to try is to simply disconnect the computer from the network and login.
June 19th, 2007 4:34pm

DiscWog wrote: Another thing to try is to simply disconnect the computer from the network and login. your solution worked for us. cheers!
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June 27th, 2007 5:10am

If you want to connect a dual-boot machine to a domain then you need to give each OS a different machine name (and hence machine account in AD) to avoid this problem recurring.
June 27th, 2007 10:45am

...no point in having the other boot use a different computer name.. when you then try to log back in to the XP boot (after Vista) you still have to leave and rejoin the domain. Is it possible the the MAC address is bound as part of the trust relationship?
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July 2nd, 2007 10:29am

No, the MAC address is not used for any part of domain authentication. It's important that both installs are given different NetBIOS names before ever attempting to join either one to AD though or you may already have corrupted the computer account object.
July 3rd, 2007 6:57am

ahh, that explains that - I'd built the XP side, that was already on the domain when I started the Vista build, used the same name, got this issue, then renamed the vista build and had the same issue. Now I understand why. nice one!
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July 6th, 2007 5:20am

I know this was awhile back, but I'm getting the same error. I am unable to log-on to the network at all due to the trust failing. I've gone back to the XP boot and renamed it, but when I try the Vista boot - it still fails ... I've tried safemode and all. Is there away to easily clean this up, so that both boot modes work without fail?
December 31st, 2007 7:55pm

TomB, try to change the Vista computer name and restart. It worked for me.
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February 5th, 2008 11:01am

hey guys, is there any way to fix this error without rejoining the domain as i dont want to lose my profile. thanks
February 22nd, 2008 12:13pm

Disconnecting and then re-joining a domain shouldn't cause you to lose your profile.
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February 22nd, 2008 12:15pm

im sure it does, i dont want to take the risk and do this. i heard it may be due to sp updates?
February 25th, 2008 7:35am

I've done this on a few occasions, and it didn't mess up the profiles. I can think of some unusual cases where you have some roaming profile/caching settings on your DC where you might see something strange--but a standard config should rejoin and reuse existing profiles that you'd used for domain accounts previously on that computer.
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February 27th, 2008 3:15pm

DiscWog wrote: Another thing to try is to simply disconnect the computer from the network and login. This issue was fixed by the above however I do not have another copy of Windows on my PC. What has happend is that my machine was logged intot he server overnight when I scheduled a restart for an AV update. However simply disconnecting the LAN cable fixed the issue and I'm not up and working with no rejoining domains or safemode boots.
April 11th, 2008 4:15am

This worked for me. Thanks for the help.
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May 17th, 2008 6:28am

DiscWog wrote: Another thing to try is to simply disconnect the computer from the network and login. This worked for me too. Thank you.
July 9th, 2008 11:07am

The solution worked for me as well. Thanks guys..:)
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December 16th, 2009 11:34am

I have a similar problem. If I disconnect the computer from the network and login, do I then rejoin to the domain? Eventually I need to connect this computer to the network, but right now my problem is just logging in at all.
January 26th, 2010 12:44pm

I have a similar problem. I don't have the local setup pw. However, when I boot in Safe Mode with my Domain Admin pw, I receive the error message that the pw is incorrect, which it isn't. Should I boot is Safe Mode or Safe Mode w/Networking? Should I boot in Safe Mode but still have the workstation connected to the network?
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January 26th, 2010 12:47pm

DOWNLOAD "HIREN BOOT 10.4" BURN THE ISO ON CD... BOOT YOUR PC WITH THAT... GO IN THE OPTIONS KON BOOT... AND NOW YOUR PC WILL AGAIN BOOT IN THE OPERATING SYSTEM (IN YOUR CASE VISTA) and YUPPI........... YOU DON'T NEED ANY PASSWORD TO LOG IN TO ANY ACCOUNT... THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS TOO IN THIS CD TO CREATE AN ADMIN ACCOUNT WITHOUT LOGGIN IN... THIS IS THE ULTIMATE AND THE DEFINITE SOLUTION... -SAMARJIT ROY CHOUDHURY
July 7th, 2010 11:12pm

Hey Guys.. The problem is NOT fixing this issue.. The problem is preventing this issue from comming back again and again.. I have over 100 computer in just under half of them are in remote locations.. When the trust relationship issue happens, this is a huge inconvenience.. The MS answer is not encouraging.. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/162797 If anyone has found the root of this issue... what makes this happen to some networks, but not others.. I would love to know.. Note: this happens to Notebooks & Workstations.. it happens to those that travel lots with their PC as well as those that remain in the office all the time.
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June 10th, 2011 10:45am

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