Quick Look: Windows 7 in the workplace – Joining a Domain

If you are a Windows XP user that’s new to Windows 7, there are some subtle improvements to how you accomplish certain task. For instance, joining a business network is much faster, but a bit different. Lets take a look doing that.

What is a Domain?

A domain if you don’t know is a server computer running a Network Operating System such as Windows Server, UNIX or Linux that manages and provides resources such as file sharing, printers and secure authentication to client computers running Windows.

In Windows XP and prior versions of Windows, at the log on dialog, a Domain list box is usually provided from which, a list of available Domains can be selected and authenticated to. Windows Vista and Windows 7 takes a different approach for both simplicity and security reasons by supplying the appropriate Domain for a user depending on his/her role or organizational unit. In the case of simplicity, users won’t be confused if they see a list of Domains and accidentally selects one or attempts to log on to the wrong one. All you need to remember is your Domain, Username and Password when logging to different computers.

Click Start, type: Domain

Hit Enter

On the System Properties dialog, click Change

Enter the appropriate name of the domain, in my case, its ‘mrdee.com’, click ‘OK’, this will now present the credentials dialog, enter your username and password, then click ‘OK’. All of this information should be provided to you by your administrator.

Once you have successfully joined the Domain, you will be asked to restart your computer to apply the necessary settings. What we have done so far, should be familiar to Windows XP users who have joined a computer to a domain, now its on to the log on experience.