INFO: UserDomain Method Does Not Work Under Win95 with WSH

ID: Q188602

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows, versions 95, 98

SUMMARY

The Windows Scripting Host returns the Domain name that the client is logging onto through the method UserDomain in the WScript.Network class. Due to the differences between Windows NT and Windows 9x this method only supports Windows NT clients. Instead of returning the domain name, when the call to UserDomain is issued on the Windows 9x client the return value is a blank string.

MORE INFORMATION

You might still need or want the domain name on Windows 9x clients. The Windows 9x client's credentials will always send a value for the Domain name.

To work around this problem you need to know where the Windows 9x client gets its Domain name. If the Windows 9x client is not set to log on to a Domain (through the "Log on to Windows NT domain" check box and text entry), it will pass the Workgroup name of the client. Otherwise, it will pass the value in the "Log on to Windows NT domain" text entry. NOTE: Even if the check box is not selected and there is a name in the "Log on to Windows NT domain" text entry, the Windows 9x client will still pass the name as the Domain name.

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

The "Log on to Windows NT domain" entry is stored in the following registry key:

   HKey_Local_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSNP32\
   NetworkProviderReg_SZ AuthenticatingAgent

NOTE: The above registry key is one path. It has been wrapped for readability.

The "Log on to Windows NT domain" check box is stored in the following registry key:

   HKey_Local_Machine\Network\Logon Reg_DWORD LMLogon
   (1=Checked 0=Unchecked)

The Workgroup name is stored in the following registry key:

   HKey_Local_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\VNETSUP Reg_SZ
   Workgroup

NOTE: The above registry key is one path. It has been wrapped for readability.

The following is a Windows Scripting Host script written in VBScript that demonstrates how to retrieve the domain name that would be sent in the clients credentials on a Windows 9x client.

Sample Code

   <Beginning of script>
     Dim Domain
     Dim WSHNetwork
     Dim WSHShell
     Dim WSHEnv

     Const LogDomstr="HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSNP32\
     NetworkProvider\AuthenticatingAgent"

   NOTE: The above string is one line. It has been wrapped for readability.

     Const Workgroupstr = "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\
     VNETSUP\Workgroup"

   NOTE: The above string is one line. It has been wrapped for readability.

     Set WSHNetwork = Wscript.CreateObject("Wscript.Network")
     Set WSHShell = Wscript.CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
     Set WSHEnv = WSHShell.Environment

     If (WSHEnv("OS") = "Windows_NT") Then
          Domain = WSHNetwork.UserDomain
     Else
          Domain = WSHShell.RegRead(LogDomstr)

          If (Domain = "") Then
        Domain = WSHShell.RegRead(Workgroupstr)
      End If
     End If

     MsgBox Domain
   <End of script>

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbnokeyword
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: July 13, 1999