Change computer name

[PDowning]

My next project is to get a script working that will read the generic pc name given after imaging with Win7, allow input for new name, and write that data back. The machines are currently NOT on AD, but will be starting this summer.

I can read the @Computername, but am I correct that you can NOT write BACK to that value to change it? Is the only way to accomplish this is to find the reg values and write back those?

Anyone else tried this yet?

Thanks in advance

Edited: We are using Dell PC's and currently use the Service Tag as part of the ComputerName. Room# - ServiceTag. So the ST needs to be pulled from the system, and appended to the end of the computername. I have found a thread with reg entries that I am going to try.

Edited May 3, 2013 by PDowning

[careca]

Never tried with autoit, but this is what i got:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"DefaultUserName"="Whatever"
"DefaultDomainName"="Whatever"

Edited May 3, 2013 by careca

[Keithdib]

try a piece of software called "wsname.exe" this will rename the machine for you in multiple ways, depending what naming convention you use

[spudw2k]

Perhaps this will provide you the mechanism you need.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2009/02/19/renaming-a-computer-using-wmic-and-how-to-get-around-that-aggravating-invalid-global-switch-error.aspx

[JLogan3o13]

As you mention you will be moving the PCs into AD shortly, I would suggest the AD UDF when you get to that point: http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=106163

With the UDF, you should be able to rename them with _AD_RenameObject()

In the meantime, this should work just fine:

#RequireAdmin

$newName = InputBox("Rename PC", "What would you like the new name to be?")
$WMI = ObjGet("winmgmts:" & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & "." & "\root\cimv2")
$aItems = $WMI.ExecQuery ("Select Name from Win32_ComputerSystem")

 For $element In $aItems
  $action = $element.Rename($newName)
    If $action <> 0 Then
    MsgBox(0, "Error - " & $action, "Error renaming PC")
  Else
   Shutdown(6)
  EndIf
 Next

[PDowning]

Perhaps this will provide you the mechanism you need.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2009/02/19/renaming-a-computer-using-wmic-and-how-to-get-around-that-aggravating-invalid-global-switch-error.aspx

I did find this command via google. I can get it to output the service tag to a text file. Then I can read that into a string variable and append the inputted computer name into a variable and write that variable to the reg entries. Or am I making that too difficult?

[careca]

I guess it's up to you, i think that would work.

[spudw2k]

How are you outputting the service tag to a text file?

[PDowning]

#include

local $cmd = _RunDos("wmic csproduct get identifyingnumber > c:\users\public\st.txt") ;Runs hidden cmd, pulls service tag and writes to st.txt
$room=InputBox('Renamer v0.1','Please Enter Room Number') ;Allows user to input name for workstation
$stag=FileReadLine('c:\users\public\st.txt',2) ;pull service tag from generated text file
$CompName=($room&'-'&$stag) ;appends service tag to room number giving us the new workstation name

MsgBox(0,'test',$CompName) ;for debugging

;write reg keys to change workstation name
RegWrite ("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Computername\Computername", "Computername", "REG_SZ", $CompName)
RegWrite ("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Computername\ActiveComputername", "Computername", "REG_SZ", $CompName)
RegWrite ("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters", "Hostname", "REG_SZ", $CompName)
RegWrite ("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters", "NV Hostname", "REG_SZ", $CompName)
RegWrite ("HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows Media\WMSDK\General", "Computername", "REG_SZ", $CompName)

In theory this works. One minor problem, win7 won't let me write to the Local_Machine section. I did a test script to write to the other root keys and it works fine, ust can't write to LM. Anyone got an idea?

Edited: Sorta fixed. Turn UAC off and I can write to the LM key. But since the name is changed it won't reboot properly.

Edited May 3, 2013 by PDowning

[JLogan3o13]

Try with #RequireAdmin at the top

[PDowning]

Well, got it working by turning UAC off. But as I said in my edit, it changes the regkeys while Windows is running and when it attempts to reboot, it blue screens. There is a step that I'm missing somewhere in the rename process that MS uses that keeps it from dying during a name change.

[careca]

Create a batch with the instructions to import the reg file, or to execute your compiled script, or whatever, and then go to gpedit.msc -> computer configuration -> scripts (Startup/Shutdown) -> Double click shutdown in the right pane, add the file to be executed uppon shutdown, and maybe this way it can work. dunno

[PDowning]

Create a batch with the instructions to import the reg file, or to execute your compiled script, or whatever, and then go to gpedit.msc -> computer configuration -> scripts (Startup/Shutdown) -> Double click shutdown in the right pane, add the file to be executed uppon shutdown, and maybe this way it can work. dunno

i'll give that a shot ...

Edited: How would I get the $CompName value OUT to the batch file? I don't see a way to do that.

Edited May 6, 2013 by PDowning

[careca]

Create the batch with autoit, like, grab the data from the txt file "X", add the variable data to it,

create new file paste all data, rename, in my mind this is making sense..doesn't mean it's simple,

Can't think of if you can rename extensions..

Edited May 6, 2013 by careca

[kylomas]

PDowning,

I think I would persue the solution that JLogan3o13 offered. Using a system interface is safer (in my opinion) than operating directly on the registry. The fact that you are having boot problems lends some credence to this.

kylomas

Edited May 7, 2013 by kylomas

[Keithdib]

If you use "wsname" all you need to do is run as follows

wsname.exe /N:$SERIALNUM or

wsname.exe /N:$ASSETTAG

etc etc

[PDowning]

I've got it working with netdom considering we are going thru the process of converting to AD. It's not a pretty script, but it is working and does what is needed.

Thanks for the suggestions and prods in the proper direction.