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Renaming computer and Account in Windows 2000

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  • Computers
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows
Last response: in Windows 2000/NT
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Anonymous
July 20, 2005 4:48:03 AM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.setup_deployment (More info?)

Hi,

I have been trawling the net and ms site for a script which renames both the
computer account and the physical computer, the scenario is basically I have
about 200 users to join to our new domain which I am doing via a netdom
command running from login script, trouble is we want to rename the computers
to include a three digit prefix. Whether this is done before joining the
domain or after i'm not too fussed, before would be my preference however.

I have found a script to rename the computer account but not the computer!!
if I had XP apparently it wouldn't be a problem.

If anyone knows of such a tool or script to help me achieve this task
without physically touching each pc would be appreciated..

Thanks

Kevin

More about : renaming computer account windows 2000

Anonymous
July 20, 2005 4:31:34 PM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.setup_deployment (More info?)

Hi,

The way I do it, is to rename the computer in the registry and then reboot
it, but LOOK OUT. As soon as you rename it and reboot it, it might drop off
the network completely unless you've got your DNS and/or WINS set up to cope
with the changes.

You have to make sure everything is done in the right order and that every
related name is changed. DNS, WINS, Computer, Secure Channel.

--
Gerry Hickman
SSRU SysAdmin

"Kevin" <Kevin @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:75794C87-58D5-4934-A65A-AAFECB14C176@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have been trawling the net and ms site for a script which renames both
the
> computer account and the physical computer, the scenario is basically I
have
> about 200 users to join to our new domain which I am doing via a netdom
> command running from login script, trouble is we want to rename the
computers
> to include a three digit prefix. Whether this is done before joining the
> domain or after i'm not too fussed, before would be my preference however.
>
> I have found a script to rename the computer account but not the
computer!!
> if I had XP apparently it wouldn't be a problem.
>
> If anyone knows of such a tool or script to help me achieve this task
> without physically touching each pc would be appreciated..
>
> Thanks
>
> Kevin
Anonymous
July 22, 2005 2:29:01 AM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.setup_deployment (More info?)

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for your advice, hmm I hope it is that simple, so you are talking
about this particular key:
HKLM\system\currentcontrolset\control\computername\computername

is that the only place you changed? have your workstations been behaving
since? the Schannel and DNS etc. isnt a problem as I am going to execute this
reg merge from a netware login script before they join AD... now, I just need
to prefix the computername, unfortunately %computername% will not resolve
here so any ideas how I just add the prefix to the existing name..

Thanks

Kevin


"Gerry Hickman" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> The way I do it, is to rename the computer in the registry and then reboot
> it, but LOOK OUT. As soon as you rename it and reboot it, it might drop off
> the network completely unless you've got your DNS and/or WINS set up to cope
> with the changes.
>
> You have to make sure everything is done in the right order and that every
> related name is changed. DNS, WINS, Computer, Secure Channel.
>
> --
> Gerry Hickman
> SSRU SysAdmin
>
> "Kevin" <Kevin @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:75794C87-58D5-4934-A65A-AAFECB14C176@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have been trawling the net and ms site for a script which renames both
> the
> > computer account and the physical computer, the scenario is basically I
> have
> > about 200 users to join to our new domain which I am doing via a netdom
> > command running from login script, trouble is we want to rename the
> computers
> > to include a three digit prefix. Whether this is done before joining the
> > domain or after i'm not too fussed, before would be my preference however.
> >
> > I have found a script to rename the computer account but not the
> computer!!
> > if I had XP apparently it wouldn't be a problem.
> >
> > If anyone knows of such a tool or script to help me achieve this task
> > without physically touching each pc would be appreciated..
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Kevin
>
>
>
Related resources
Anonymous
July 23, 2005 12:47:46 AM

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.setup_deployment (More info?)

Hi Kevin,

> Thanks for your advice, hmm I hope it is that simple, so you are talking
> about this particular key:
> HKLM\system\currentcontrolset\control\computername\computername

Kind of.

> is that the only place you changed?

No.

> have your workstations been behaving
> since?

Perfect.

> the Schannel and DNS etc. isnt a problem as I am going to execute this
> reg merge from a netware login script before they join AD...

Hmm, well I can't comment on that, a login script sounds a bit odd.

> now, I just need
> to prefix the computername, unfortunately %computername% will not resolve
> here so any ideas how I just add the prefix to the existing name..

Here's an example of my "rename" function. I unjoin the box from the
domain with NetDom, reboot, adjust DNS and WINS, then run this script,
reboot, then re-join the box with NetDom. Something like that anyway -
it's been a while since I had to do it. I remember being able to
automate the whole thing and ran it on dozens of machines.

The function below can't be run without my custom JScript libraries, but
it's very easy to see how it works, just use the conepts in your own
scripts.

BEWARE OF LINE WRAP!


// ReanmeComputer.wsf
function rename(strOldName, strNewName) {

var strRegPath =
"System\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\ComputerName\\ComputerName";
var strValueName = "ComputerName";
var r = new Reg();
r.connect(oLoc, strOldName);
var strCurrentName = r.readString(r.HKLM, strRegPath, strValueName)
if(!strCurrentName) {
_trace("*** Problem Reading Registry ***");
return false;
}

_trace(strOldName + " has the current NetBIOS name of " + strCurrentName);

if(!r.writeString(r.HKLM, strRegPath, strValueName, strNewName)) {
_trace("*** Problem writing Registry ***");
return false;
}

_trace(strNewName + " written to NetBIOS name in registry");

strRegPath = "SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\Tcpip\\Parameters";
strValueName = "NV Hostname";

if(!r.writeString(r.HKLM, strRegPath, strValueName, strNewName)) {
_trace("*** Problem writing Registry ***");
return false;
}

_trace(strNewName + " written to to hostname in reg");

r.dispose();

return true;
}



--
Gerry Hickman (London UK)
August 15, 2012 12:11:21 PM

Quote:
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win2000.setup_deployment (More info?)

Hi,

I have been trawling the net and ms site for a script which renames both the
computer account and the physical computer, the scenario is basically I have
about 200 users to join to our new domain which I am doing via a netdom
command running from login script, trouble is we want to rename the computers
to include a three digit prefix. Whether this is done before joining the
domain or after i'm not too fussed, before would be my preference however.

I have found a script to rename the computer account but not the computer!!
if I had XP apparently it wouldn't be a problem.

If anyone knows of such a tool or script to help me achieve this task
without physically touching each pc would be appreciated..

Thanks

Kevin




I was able to change the computer's name for my win2k pro by remotely logging in through DameWare, and clicking on Control panel > System> Network...(tab). That showed me the computer name and in there you can also set the domain name too. (Of course you need administrative privledges when you log in).
August 15, 2012 12:12:16 PM


I was able to change the computer's name for my win2k pro by remotely logging in through DameWare, and clicking on Control panel > System> Network...(tab). That showed me the computer name and in there you can also set the domain name too. (Of course you need administrative privledges when you log in).
!