Rename a PC from a batch file - Any ideas?

[MrLudwig]

Hi,

I want to write a couple of batch files that will be run automatically after a PC has been imaged using ghost. I want the batch files to rename the PC, restart it and then join it to a domain.

Getting the PC to auto login and run a batch file is easy enough, but how do I rename it or add it to the domain?

I know the netdom utility from one of the MS Resource Kits can do the domain join, but it seems as though the rename only works on PCs already joined to a domain. I need a way of doing it for PC's that aren’t yet on a domain.

Thanks

[localzuk]

Why not use sysprep before you ghost the machines? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302577

What version of ghost are you using?

[mrforgetful]

Yeh you need to sysprep before taking an image otherwise you'lll have lots of issues including SID and HAL issues.

Erm, google is your friend ubt I use the following sysprep commands:

sysprep -bmsd

followed by

sysprep -clean

then

sysprep -quiet -mini -reseal

MY sysprep file will add the computer to the domain but I still rename them when they've finished first boot as I've not configured any autonaming yet and I just get names like 'school-123486'

[localzuk]

MY sysprep file will add the computer to the domain but I still rename them when they've finished first boot as I've not configured any autonaming yet and I just get names like 'school-123486'

If you go for the solution suite, it is brilliant for sysprepping. Once it has a configuration stored for a PC, reimaging is as simple as clicking Execute. The machine then names as it should be etc...

[MicrodigitUK]

To change the name, all that is needed in the batch file is a line to insert a reg file and the use of reg frag file to change the key with the computer name.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\ComputerName\ActiveComputerName]
"ComputerName"="THE-NAME-FOR-YOUR-COMP"

[MrLudwig]

I'm using Ghost (and GhostCast server) v8.

We avoid the HAL issue by having separate images for each model of PC, and NewSID from SysInternals gets around cloned SIDs.

After a sysprep'ed ghost image is cloned onto a new PC, does Windows do a mini-setup the same way it does after installation via RIS?

Also, would prestaging work in this situation?

I setup most of our PCs via RIS, but one room of nForce based machines refuse to work with RIS no matter what I do, so these are still done using GhostCasting. I wanted to achieve the same prestaging and domain join you get with RIS, but for the ghosted PCs, if that makes sense.


Thanks

[localzuk]

I'm using Ghost (and GhostCast server) v8.

We avoid the HAL issue by having separate images for each model of PC, and NewSID from SysInternals gets around cloned SIDs.

After a sysprep'ed ghost image is cloned onto a new PC, does Windows do a mini-setup the same way it does after installation via RIS?

Yes - but you can automate all of it except the naming part (unless you use ghost solution suite, then it'll handle that too).

Also, would prestaging work in this situation?

I setup most of our PCs via RIS, but one room of nForce based machines refuse to work with RIS no matter what I do, so these are still done using GhostCasting. I wanted to achieve the same prestaging and domain join you get with RIS, but for the ghosted PCs, if that makes sense.

I don't know that one - wouldn't see why you'd want to use RIS if you used Ghost...

[mrforgetful]

Also Sysprep itself gets the SID sorted so why do you need other software for that?

*remembers back to the day of Windows 98 and having to run Ghostwalker on every PC*

[Geoff]

You can use the 'netdom' command to do this.

[MrLudwig]

You can use the 'netdom' command to do this.

How?

I can get netdom to join a machine to a domain, but I need a way to rename it first. When I try using netdoms /renamecomputer switch, it fails saying the machine is not joined to a domain.

Can netdom only rename machines already joined to a domain? Surely it makes more sense to rename a machine, then join it to the domain? :?


Thanks

[techyphil]

I used to Ghost with my own AutoIT file in steps.

Step 1 - Add auto logon info to run the other autoit files in c:\autoit\autoit3.exe step2.au3 etc etc

Step 2 - Used autoit to prompt for a computer name which u type in then it executed newsid.exe /a [computernameVariable] and add new autorun info into registry and remove the old autorun info. (reboot automatically)

Step 3 - Obviously removes the old autorun and autologin info and uses netdom to join the domain and put pc in correct OU.

I've used this on serveral ghost setups. Works 90% of the time but its a massive time saver when you've got 30-60 workstations to do. I just modify the au3 files from time to time and dump it onto the next machine for ghosting.

[PiqueABoo]

Can netdom only rename machines already joined to a domain?

I think that's correct, although the next version of netdom (for W2K8) definitely will rename a non-domain machine.

[MrLudwig]

Thanks everyone.

techyphil:
Your method sounds exactly like what I was trying to achieve, although I hadn't thought of using AutoIT. That's a stroke of genius! :idea:

Thanks again.

[mark]

there's a command line utility to name/rename machines 'off domain' here

see /? for instructions