Win Domain User and Computer and Name changes

[raanders]

I took on a customer with a Win2K server and domain. I haven't had a lot to do with Windows for several years so I've been research and am hoping for any insight or guidance you can offer.

The network has had several years of apathy, neglect, and ignorance applied to it. The last person that was doing the in-house support left suddenly.

I get a call, actually a referral, when their Internet access dies. This becuase their ISP changed the service type and that required new IP addresses for the LAN. (You don't even want to go there. Public routable IPs behind a firewall that went end-of-life several years ago.)

I've got most of that sorted out but now the apathy and neglect come into play. There are old and new users that have not been removed or added to the systems. So Brian is logging on to his workstation as Linsey, and Joyce's computer is named Virgina not Reception, etc.

I have most of a plan for renaming the computers, how to rename the users (so their desktop settings are not lost) and adding or removing users and computers from the Active Directory, but wonder if there are any special gotchas I should be aware of.


Thanks,
Rod
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[MHCG]

I took over a network in similar condition. There were lots of instances of the "Domain Users" group being in the local computer admin groups (giving everyone who logged in admin privileges), unlicensed software installed on every computer and there were no groups setup for file server permissions. Essentially, permissions were assigned on a per user basis instead of per group, so when people moved to different areas or quit, their accounts were never removed from permissions. Oh, and nearly everyone had full control over everybody's files, of course there also wasn't a regular backup plan in place.

If you have specific questions regarding AD, I'm very well versed in it. It would be easier to know what your plan, instead of trying to guess how you're planning on accomplishing it.

 

[raanders]

<snip />
If you have specific questions regarding AD, I'm very well versed in it. It would be easier to know what your plan, instead of trying to guess how you're planning on accomplishing it.

Well I stuggle with the terminology Microsoft uses so this would be helpful though maybe /interesting/. I've spent the last six or so years doing mostly Linux -- servers and workstations -- and Windows servers doing web hosting and email. So I may fall into *nix, and Samba terms as I type.

It is a pretty simple set up. One server, two networked printers, seven workstations, and two laptops (one currently wireless and the other may be hardwired)

There is only one user I'm aware of that has a personal share though most of the individual profiles should also. They do want a couple of the profiles to be able to roam.
There are two workstations that mostly have a single purpose but one of the roaming profiles may need to work from one of them.

This vague enough? My brain is getting fuzzy so I'll leave this hanging for now. Then tomorrow I'll come up with a real plan.


Rod
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