How to Add a Windows 7 Computer to an Existing Domain?

Windows 7 is although quite user friendly it however can also be configured to work as a client to any Domain Controller in any client-server network scenario. Except to Home series of Windows 7 flavors all other versions can be added to domain.

There are a few prerequisites that a Windows 7 computer must have before it can be added to a domain. These prerequisites are:

• Computer must not have Windows 7 Starter Home Basic or Home Premium flavors of operating systems installed as these flavors cannot join a domain.
• Domain Controller must be present in your network.
• DNS server must be present in your network.
• A computer must be connected to the network either via cable or through wireless medium.
• If DHCP server is not present in your infrastructure manual IP address should be provided to the computer.
• If DHCP server is not present in your infrastructure manual DNS address should be provided to the computer.

Once the above prerequisites are met you can add your Windows 7 computer to the existing domain by following the steps given below:

1. Log on to the computer with the user account that has Administrative privileges.
2. Click on Start button.
3. In the start menu right-click on Computer and select Properties.
4. In the View basic information about your computer page under Computer name domain and workgroup settings frame click on Change settings link.
5. In the System Properties box ensure that you are on Computer Name tab and click on Change button.
6. On the Computer Name/Domain Changes box select Domain radio button under Member of section and type the name of the domain to which you want to add this computer.
7. Click on Ok button.
8. In the opened window provide the credentials of domain administrator and click on Ok button to accept and confirm your configuration. Alternatively you can also provide credentials of a domain user account to this computer to the domain.
9. 
10. You will be displayed with a message box welcoming you to the domain and Windows will ask you to restart the computer.

Note:

Any domain user account credentials can be provided while joining a computer to a domain. A domain user account can add up to 10 computers to a domain using its own credentials.