How to remotely change the computer name on many Windows XP computers?
Posted
January 9, 2009 
Comments(6)
Comments(6)
emmittnervend asked:
I am about to join 1600 computers to my Active Directory domain. Their current names contain underscores, which violates the corporate naming policy. I have to change their names before I join them. These are remote machines, so I will probably use some sort of script. Before anyone suggests netdom, it only works on domain members.
This might help
good luck
You are dealing with large network man!… You don’t really need to change computers name remotely. Delegate authority to your local administrator to do that and also right to join computer to a domain so that you can face core administrative task… Like remote server updates, user creation, remote access such as VPN…..e.t.c
Regards
Not sure if this works for what you want but…. go to manage computer, right click computer managment connect to another computer change name……
Wait , just tried it…….never mind, that will only change description and not name…
good luck
/hello there
man..did you find anything for your problem? because now I need to do exactly the same.. help please…
Remotely rename XP workstation? 2 Years, 1 Month ago Karma: 100
How to Rename a Computer
1. Install Windows XP Support Tools from the Support\Tools folder on the Windows XP Professional CD-ROM.
2. At a command prompt, type the following command. NOTE: The following command line has been wrapped to multiple lines to make it easier to read. Enter the command as a single line.
netdom renamecomputer machine
/newname:new_computername
/userd:domainname\administrator_id
/passwordd:*
/usero:local_admin
/passwordo:*
/reboot: 6 seconds before automatic reboot
EX:
netdom RENAMECOMPUTER Windows_XP /NEWNAME:Windows_Vista /userd:example.local\example_admin /PASSWORDD:* /REBOOT:60
Create a batch file – try that.
reference: http://www.atot.net/windows-xp/remotely-rename-xp-workstation.html
If you have access to a Windows 2003 Server CD, get the netdom.exe that is in
the “Support Tools” install, and take a look at the RENAMECOMPUTER parameter.
Netdom.exe from this kit can be used for Win2k, WinXP as well as Win2k3.
It also looks like the netdom.exe that comes with the updated WinXP SP2
version of support tools have this setting included now.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=49ae8576-9bb9…26-9761
C:\>C:\Win2k3SupportTools\Netdom.exe HELP RENAMECOMPUTER
The syntax of this command is:
NETDOM RENAMECOMPUTER machine /NewName:new-name
/UserD:user [/PasswordD:[password | *]]
[/UserO:user [/PasswordO:[password | *]]]
[/Force]
[/REBoot[:Time in seconds]]
NETDOM RENAMECOMPUTER renames a computer that is joined to a domain. The
computer object in the domain is also renamed. Certain services, such as the
Certificate Authority, rely on a fixed machine name. If any services of this
type are running on the target computer, then a computer name change would
have an adverse impact. This command should not be used to rename a domain
controller.
(snip)
With VBScript, you can also use the Rename method in WMI class
Win32_ComputerSystem (not remotely though)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/wmisdk/wmi/rename_method_in_cl…_win32_
Orignally given by: Torgeir Bakken