Windows 2003 AD Domain? At work, we use a windows server 2003 environment with our own DHCP and DNS Servers. We have some group policies in place but they hardly place any restrictions on users being able to get around the network. Now when I first use a Vista computer before it is added to the Active Directory Domain, DHCP works flawlessly. However, after adding it to the domain DHCP stops working completely. A network sniff shows that communication is happening between the DHCP server and the Vista computer, and that the DHCP server is even offering an IP address, yet the Vista computer doesn't seem to take it. When I give the Vista computer a Static IP address, however, it works just fine. Any ideas would be appreciated.IPCONFIG doesn't seem to work. I get a "Access is Denied" message when trying to release or renew.

Try turning off the Vista firewall, and from a command prompt test whether or not the following works:IPCONFIG /RELEASE ALLIPCONFIG /RENEWIt is also possible that your policy is set to update the IP Address after 8 days or so. Maybe, your Vista is retaining old settings but will not update due to the policy. Try forcing an update.

Try the following1. Check if the port is not being blocked by firewall.2. Check if the DNS server address is correctly configured3. Make a reservation in the DHCP server and check if that works (just to check and not a permanent solution)4. Check if you can ping the DHCP server from the vista machine after joining to the domain5. In your DNS do you have a record listed for you Vista PC? If not try adding it in.6. Try disabling IPv67. DO you have netbios over TCP enabled? Can you use nslookup to resolve the domain controller host name? How about for the domain its self? (this should all be done from the vista machine in AD)run>cmd>nslookupmydomain.local