The most common cause of this issue is the domain controller being offline, possibly due to maintenance or a power outage. Other contributing factors may include improper configuration of the client device, network connectivity problems, host server issues, or incorrect DNS settings. Having discussed the causes, let’s now delve into the solutions to this error.
1. Check for Errors in Windows Event Viewer
To gain insight into the cause of this error, it is wise to first consult the Windows Event Viewer for any domain controller-related errors.
2. Ping the Hostname and DC (Domain Controller) from the Client Device
It is recommended to start by checking the basics before proceeding with more complex troubleshooting steps. Pinging the DC (Domain Controller) from the affected device will help verify whether the DC is reachable.
2.1 Domain Controller
2.2. Affected Device
3. Ping the Affected Device from the DC (Domain Controller)
Having pinged the DC, the next step is to try pinging the affected device from the DC to ensure connectivity.
3.1 Affected Device
3.2 Domain Controller
4. Configure the DNS on the Affected Device Correctly
Given that the DC and the client PC can communicate with each other, it is highly likely that your DNS settings are not properly configured. Your DNS settings may be defaulting to those of your router rather than those of your domain, preventing the affected PC from accessing the DC and causing this error. Therefore, updating your DNS settings is necessary to resolve the domain when connecting to the DC.
4.1 Domain Controller
4.2 Affected Device
