Joining a Domain
Applies To: Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server Technical Preview, Windows Vista
Your client application gains access to the directory service when the client computer is added to a Windows® 2000 or Windows Server 2003 domain. This means that you can use public queues, as well as call any function or method that accesses the directory service.
Windows 2000
To join a domain (from a Windows 2000 computer)
Open Control Panel.
Double-click System.
Click the Network Identification tab.
On the Network Identification page, click Change to start the Network Access Wizard.
Run the wizard and select My computer uses a Windows 2000 network.
Enter the name of the domain.
Windows XP or Windows Server 2003
To join a domain (from a computer running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003)
Open Control Panel.
Double-click System.
Click the Computer Name tab.
On the Computer Name page, click Change.
Under Member of, click Domain, type the domain name, and click OK.
When prompted, provide a valid user name and password.
When, prompted, restart your computer to apply the changes.