This usually can be Windows Server problem. A lot of administrators encounter with a common error, when the domain users try to log on the domain, and the error says that the computer cannot contact the domain, and because of that they cannot log on the domain. The exact appearance of that message looks like this:
“Windows cannot connect to the domain either because the domain controller is down or otherwise unavailable, or because your computer account was not found. Please try again later. If this message continues to appear contact your System Administrator for assistance.“

One of the cases where this error is reported is when the computer is replaced with another computer that has the same name, but before deleting the object from the Active Directory. It’s interesting that this error can appear the first time or possibly after few successful logins. Also, one of the reasons of this error appearing is that the account of the computer is deleted from Active Directory.

But still, the most common cause of this error appearing is that the administrators have created an identical copy of one computer, and distributed it on new computers without using the SYSPREP tool. In most cases this error doesn’t have to do anything with the user account, but exclusively with the computer account.

The error solution is the next:

• On the domain controller open Active Directory Users and Computers and delete the computer account of the computer that reports the error.
• Log on the problematic computer as a local administrator. Unless this helps, log on as a domain administrator. If still this doesn’t help, try doing these two steps with the network cable disconnected.
• Open Control Panel, then open the System icon, choose the Computer tab and cast out the computer from the domain, and paste into any Workgroup.
• Restart the computer.
• Repeat the previous step and get back the computer in the domain.
• Restart the computer.

After doing this the domain logging should be working properly.

Tags | Howto, Networking, Tips and Tricks, Windows