changing between a workgroup and a domain

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i want to be a be able to share files in a mixed os environment. a desktop
harwired to the router runs '98 that is set to share files across the network
(a netgear wireless router). I'd like to be able to access these file from
laptops running: a)windows 2000 professional, and B) windows xp professional.
the laptops are "work" coputers and are therefore part of a domain.
therefore, i'd liek to be able to switch between a domain and a workgroup
such that the laptops can operate within their respective domains (when in
the office) and switch to a workgroup (when at home). is this possible?

thanks in advance
 
dave - saratoga said:
i want to be a be able to share files in a mixed os environment. a desktop
harwired to the router runs '98 that is set to share files across the network
(a netgear wireless router). I'd like to be able to access these file from
laptops running: a)windows 2000 professional, and B) windows xp professional.
the laptops are "work" coputers and are therefore part of a domain.
therefore, i'd liek to be able to switch between a domain and a workgroup
such that the laptops can operate within their respective domains (when in
the office) and switch to a workgroup (when at home). is this possible?

thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Ask your network administrator to register your laptop on the domain.
You will then be able to get validated either by the domain controller
or by the local machine, depending on the selection you make at logon
time.
 
Thanks for the response Pegasus, but the "problem" is that the computer is
already registered on the domain. Last week I had toggled to a workgroup in
the network identification tab of system properties. it deleted the domain
info & i couldn't log back into the computer. The IT people at work fixed it
for me (after severe chastising though; Want to avoid that again). I can get
into the domain in the office. I'd like to be able to get into the workgroup
at home to access files on computers there. the IT person suggested it might
be possible by setting up an alternative account and logging into the home
workgroup through it. This possiblility woulod leave the computer registered
in the domain. Any comments, suggestions?
 
Dave - Saratoga said:
Thanks for the response Pegasus, but the "problem" is that the computer is
already registered on the domain. Last week I had toggled to a workgroup in
the network identification tab of system properties. it deleted the domain
info & i couldn't log back into the computer. The IT people at work fixed it
for me (after severe chastising though; Want to avoid that again). I can get
into the domain in the office. I'd like to be able to get into the
Click to expand...
workgroup

You can't. Plain and simple. Switching to a workgroup is not a "toggle", it
is a complete networking environment reconfiguration,...hence the
chastising.

Netswitcher (www.netswitcher.com) is one possible solution, but installing
software on your machine that you don't own is is grounds for a lot more of
that "chastising" that you mentioned. The IT people have to be "on board"
with the idea and they need to be the ones to perform it.
 
As I mentioned in my first reply: At logon time you get the
choice of validation by the domain or by your local PC.
Select whichever you prefer. As Phillip mentiones, you will
get a specific user environment in each case.

If you do not see three boxes at logon time, click the
"Options" box below!
 
dave said:
i want to be a be able to share files in a mixed os environment. a
desktop harwired to the router runs '98 that is set to share files
across the network (a netgear wireless router). I'd like to be able
to access these file from laptops running: a)windows 2000
professional, and B) windows xp professional. the laptops are "work"
coputers and are therefore part of a domain. therefore, i'd liek to
be able to switch between a domain and a workgroup such that the
laptops can operate within their respective domains (when in the
office) and switch to a workgroup (when at home). is this possible?

thanks in advance
Click to expand...

In addition to the other replies:

You don't need to change your computer from domain to workgroup just to
access resources in that workgroup. As you now know, you shouldn't play with
your lcompany computers' network settings at all. Once you've logged in
using your domain account (using cached credentials), and have an IP address
on the home network, you can map drives, use printers, whatnot, very
easily - one way, in a command line:

net use x: \\computername\sharename /user:computername\username <enter>
 
let me get this straight-

in a nutshell - i log into my server, across town, to access files on the
computer on the floor below me. sorry, kinda ironic. seriously though, would
this be documented on the ms support website? (i'm a networking novice here,
sorry) this might work for what i want to do. would it also allow me to
access the home computer from my desktop in the office?

thanks
 
You appear to be changing the subject.

Your initial question was about accessing files either in
a domain environment or in a workgroup environment.
The question relates to your logon environment.

You now ask if you can access your home computer
from your desktop in the office. The question relates
to accessing a PC remotely, via the Internet. It is
totally unrelated to your first question.

If this is what you want to do then I recommend you
start a new thread, using an appropriate Subject
line. I also recommend that you ask your network
administrator for assistance. You are, in your own words,
a "networking novice", and configuring remote access
via the Internet requires skills that a networking novice
does not usually have.
 
dave said:
let me get this straight-

in a nutshell - i log into my server, across town, to access files on
the computer on the floor below me.
Click to expand...

No, you log into your computer using your domain credentials - when you're
offline, you can use "cached credentials" and your domain account/password.
Then you can do what you wish on the "other" network you're on.
sorry, kinda ironic. seriously
though, would this be documented on the ms support website? (i'm a
networking novice here, sorry) this might work for what i want to do.
would it also allow me to access the home computer from my desktop in
the office?
Click to expand...

No, that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.
 
8?B?ZGF2ZSAtIHNhcmF0b2dh?= said:
would it also allow me to
access the home computer from my desktop in the office?
Click to expand...

The only way to access files outside of a office is to get past the
firewall and into the private network at the other end.

If your home network allows inbound by any means other than a VPN
connection you are going to get compromised.

If your company firewall allows outbound access, enough that you could
access your home computer, then the security is not properly setup.

If you want to access files on the home computer from work, ask your IT
guys to setup something for you - it will be a lot safer.

If you are doing this yourself, and it doesn't sound like you are (the
entire IT setup), then setup VPN's between your home and the office so
that your data is secure.
 
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