Problem description:

Unable to join Workstation to Domain: cloud365.local, failing with error:

The following error occurred attempting to join the domain “cloud365.local”: Unable to load the specified offline registry hive. Please ensure you have access to the specified path location and permissions to modify its contents. Running as an elevated administrator may be required.

Cause:

Missing backup/restore privileges. 

Resolution:

Looked into C:\Windows\Debug\Netsetup.log and found that it was trying to setup backup/restore privileges.

09/29/2016 14:29:04:868 Blob version: 1
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868         lpDomain: cloud35.local
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868         lpMachineName: client
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868         lpMachinePassword: <omitted from log>
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868    DomainDnsPolicy:
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            Name: LAB
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DnsDomainName: cloud35.local
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DnsForestName: cloud35.local
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DomainGuid: 5bc21e4d-2ce8-4a73-8ad1-bf206c352147
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            Sid: S-1-5-21-2634677372-4101705545-662205665
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868    DcInfo:
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DomainControllerName: \\lab.cloud35.local
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DomainControllerAddress: \\176.12.19.2
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DomainControllerAddressType: 1
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DomainGuid: 5bc21e4d-2ce8-4a73-8ad1-bf206c352147
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DomainName: cloud365.local
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DnsForestName: cloud365.local
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            Flags: 0xe00031fc
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            DcSiteName: BLR
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868            ClientSiteName: BLR
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868         Options: 0x40000003
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868 NetpDoInitiateOfflineDomainJoin
09/29/2016 14:29:04:868 NetpDoInitiateOfflineDomainJoin: Setting backup/restore privileges
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpInitiateOfflineJoin
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871         lpLocalRegistryPath: C:\Windows\system32\config\SYSTEM
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871         dwOptions: 0x40000003
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpConvertBlobToJoinState: Translating provisioning data to internal format
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpConvertBlobToJoinState: Selecting version 1
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpConvertBlobToJoinState: exiting: 0x0
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpInitiateOfflineJoin: RegLoadKeyW failed to load the hive C:\Windows\system32\config\SYSTEM: 0x522
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpClearFullJoinState:  Removing cached state from the registry...
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpClearFullJoinState: Status of deleting join state key 0x6
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpDoInitiateOfflineDomainJoin: status: 0xa9d
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetRequestOfflineDomainJoin: Failed to initiate the offline domain join 0xa9d
09/29/2016 14:29:04:871 NetpJoinDomainOnDs: Function exits with status of: 0xa9d
09/29/2016 14:29:04:872 NetpJoinDomainOnDs: status of disconnecting from '\\lab.cloud365.local': 0x0
09/29/2016 14:29:04:872 NetpDoDomainJoin: status: 0xa9d

1. Added local admin account to following policies underneath:
   Local Computer Policy\Computer configuration\Security Settings\Local Policies\User Rights Assignment\
   – Back up files and directories
   – Restore files and directories
2. Rebooted the computer.
3. Computer was successfully joined to the domain afterwards.