Any workstation running Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 requires a computer account within Active Directory in order to join a domain.

When creating computer accounts you basically have two options. You can create the account when you join the computer to the domain. The account is automatically created within the Computers or Domain Controllers container. Or you can pre-create the account within Active Directory Users and Computers.

To create a computer account using Active Directory Users and Computers:

1. Click Start, Point to Administrative Tools, and click Active Directory Users and Computers.

2. Right click the container in which you want to create the account, point to New, and click Computer.
3. Type in a unique computer name and select the user or group with permission to join the computer to the domain. The default group is Domain Admins.
4. If the computer is a pre-Windows 2000 computer select the option to Assign this computer account as a pre-Windows 2000 computer.
5. If the computer is going to be used as a backup for a domain controller, select the option to Assign this computer as a backup domain controller.
6. Click OK.

[tags]diana huggins,active directory,user account,create account[/tags]