JSI Tip 7243. Windows XP logs Event ID 1054, 'The specified domain either does not exist or exist or could not be contacted'?

When you you try to join an Active Directory domain, you receive:

Event ID: 1054
Source: NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM
Type: Error
Description: Windows cannot obtain the domain controller name for your computer network. (The specified domain either does not exist or exist or could not be contacted). Group Policy processing aborted.

If you use a Gigabit Ethernet device, the link status may fluctuate as the NIC driver initializes or negotiates.

Make sure your are running the most current drivers for your network adapter.

You may be able to workaround this problem by disabling media sense.

If disabling media sense does NOT resolve the issue, the only other workaround is to switch to a different NIC.

NOTE: See tip 5417 for another reason for Event ID 1054.