I have a new server running Windows server 2012 R2 in a LAN network with a domain controller that was working with all the users and clients for about a week and a half. Then, today, when I was doing nothing in particular, it displayed an error where I couldn't access the network server shared folders, or the machine itself on the network from first one user, then the other users.
It is a small healthcare office that requires the server for some programs and I was ecstatic that it worked, until it didn't.
What I did do was install a Synology backup NAS and tried to connect it to the domain as well with a name that was the same as the office server. I think this may have caused the problem, though I had the DNS point to the server IP as all the other clients, and the connection attempts failed. I just thought I should include that because that is all that I could think that I changed.
The error I get is "The target account name is incorrect."
I tried to reset the users on the server. Nothing.
I caught on that the name could be confusing, so I reset the backup NAS name to something else. Nothing I think.
I fiddled with IP settings, nada.
I tried to unjoin the computer clients from the domain and then rejoin. Nothing.
I figured I had nothing left to lose as the info on the server is intact, it is something with communicating with the client machines. I renamed the server which is the domain controller and restarted. The clients did not connect once, then they gave me the option to connect with login credentials and I had access!!
So, I am able to limp through as I remapped some paths to use this workaround so I can see patients tomorrow and access files.
The problem, is there is no domain controller as it was demoted with the name change and cannot be accessed, which is expected. I just want to be able to understand why this happened and if the problem will be solved if I make the renamed server the domain controller by elevating it.
If I have to, I will make a whole new domain and connect the workstations and wipe the old one out, but I do not want to reinstall the server machine!!
Please advise as I spent about 7 hours trying to figure this out and don't want to make any changes without knowing why because I am the IT person for the practice, and it was working perfectly.
