Leaving a domain and joining a new domain

[kaphc]

We've moved to a new school building with a new Windows 2008 R2 server. The old server has been retired and is no longer in use. We have a new domain with a new domain controller, and pretty much new IT kit - so new desktops and netbooks which can be joined to the new domain straight off, no problems there so far.

 

We also have a few Windows XP laptops which have been brought from the old site and I'd like to get them on the new domain too. They currently point to the old domain - which confusingly has exactly the same name as the new domain.

 

Can someone point me in the right direction for how to disconnect the laptops from the old domain and get them joined to the new domain? Google is surprisingly unhelpful on this.

[jamesreedersmith]

CHange domain to workgroup with a name of your choice (doesnt matter) reboot and then join to domain as normal.

[kaphc]

Yeah .... did that and ended up locked out of the laptop and had to reset the passwords. Albeit that was because I was a muppet and forgot to note / set the local administrator password. But if I have that information this time round, are there any issues around profiles if I leave / rejoin?

[glennda]

CHange domain to workgroup with a name of your choice (doesnt matter) reboot and then join to domain as normal.

 

yeah this will work

 

although personally i would reinstall the machines before adding them to the new domain

[MatthewL]

Just log on as a local admin, change to a workgroup and then readd to the new domain.

 

Personally I would put a fresh image on them so no legacy settings get used.

[bart21]

+1 for a fresh image first