[WDS] Error during XP deployment using WDS - %machinename% in sysprep.inf does not work

[noor_salafi]

Hi there,

I am trying to deploy an XP image using WDS. I have saved the sysprep.inf file in the relevant folder hierarchy and the computer seems to be picking it up when I'm deploying the image. However, an error message appears during setup saying that the new computer name entered is not properly formatted. I have specified the computer name on the sysprep.inf file to be %machinename% so that the computer can keep the original name assigned to it in active directory but it doesn't seem to work.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Noor

[IggyTheSmidge]

When you say you want the computer to keep the same name, I take it that it's a managed computer? I ask because I think I've seen that error if I mistype the GUID, so it tries to use the string %machinename% as the actual computer name...

(I've spent the last 3 weeks setting up a server 2k8 network from scratch, and have learnt a hell of a lot in that time, so forgive me if I'm a little vague on individual error messages! )

[Gatt]

Try replacing %machinename% with an asterisk (*) see if that helps...

[Ste_Harve]

for %MACHINENAME% to work the computer needs to be managed in AD and the GUID properly entered. I've got around 400 machines all deployed with sysprep that will pick up the same name as they had before. The big pain was entering the GUID for them all, but well worth the effort. I'd be tempted to delete the computer account from AD and reenter it again making sure guid is right.