Resetting Computer Account

A domain computer account synchronizes with the Domain Controller (DC) on a regular basis. This means that the computer checks with the DC or the DC checks for the computer on the network at a set interval. If for some reason synchronization does not take place, then the computer account can become invalid due to failed authentication. Group policy may also fail to take effect.

Each domain computer maintains a machine account password history containing the current and previous passwords used for the account. When the computer attempt to authenticate with DC and a change to the current password is not yet received, Windows then relies on the previous password. If this authentication fails (due to the failed sync of password), both computers may not communicate. Hence, you have to reset the computer password. You can't set the password directly but you can perform a computer account reset on the "Active Directory User and Computer" console or "netdom reset" on a DC.

After you have reset the computer account, you won't be able to login to the affected computer using domain-based accounts. You have to re-join the computer to domain, so that the AD re-sync can take place. Login to the affected computer on local administrator account. At the elevated command prompt,

1. Force leave the domain: netdom remove %computername% /domain:{domain-name} /force
2. Re-join the domain: netdom join %computername% /domain:{domain-name} /UserD:{domain user} /PasswordD:{domain password}
3. Reboot the computer