Require Windows 98 Clients to Logon to the Domain

How can I require Windows 98 clients to logon to the domain instead of pressing “cancel” at the welcome screen?

By default Windows 9x doesn’t require a valid network username and password combination for a user to bypass the logon and gain access to the local machine. This functionality can be changed to require validation by the network before allowing access.
Actually there are 2 ways in which you can do it:

Method #1:

You need to set a system policy by creating a CONFIG.POL file using POLEDIT.EXE which comes on the Win9x CD and put the file in the NETLOGON directory of the domain controller server (if you have more than one you need to manually copy the file to the same location on all DCs). The path is: %systemroot%system32replscriptsexport

1. Go to your Win98 CD and navigate to X:toolsreskitnetadminpoleditpoledit.exe

(where X is the drive letter of your CD). Run poledit.exe.
Note: Make sure you use the version found on the Win98 CD and NOT the one provided with W2K!

1. From the Options menu go to Policy Templates and Add the Windows.adm template if it isn‘t showing already.

1. Go to the File menu, then choose New Policy.

1. Double click into Default Computer.
2. Drill down through Win98 Network, Logon. Tick Require Validation from network to logon.

1. You can also add a banner warning users not to attempt to logon if they dont have the correct username and password or a capital punishment warning…

1. Click down to the Update entry. Check Remote Update. Set Update Mode to Automatic.

1. Go to File | Save As CONFIG.POL and copy to the NETLOGON share which is actually the  %systemroot%system32replscriptsexport folder. Make sure you copy it to the same location on all DCs (PDC and BDC).

Method #2:

1. Open your registry and find the key below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINENetworkLogon

1. Create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing value called “MustBeValidated” and set it to equal “1” to require successful authentication.
2. Restart Windows for the change to take effect.
3. Your machine must be part of a Windows domain for this tweak to work, as the user must be authenticated by the network.

Links

Windows 2000 Deployment Planning Guide

 To join a domain
Error Message “Network Name Is No Longer Available” Joining Windows XP Domain – 293403