Cannot Change Computer Name

[Techie101]

hi all

 

i have a really strange problem with a number of windows xp computers. the school has recently installed a server running 2008 server. i have ghosted 3 pc's and then tried to add them to the domain. this has worked, when you right click my computer and enter properties and check the computer name each computer has a different name.

 

however, when you log out and you are at the log in screen (press alt+ctrl+del screen) if you check the computer name in the drop down menu for the domain all 3 computers have the same name, and no matter what you do you cannot change these names. so now im getting errors saying i have duplicate names on the network.

 

if i check the active directory all 3 computers are listed with the different names

 

can anyone help. many thanks

[localzuk]

When you ghosted them, were they sysprepped and new SIDs generated?

[Michael]

That is a bit weird to be honest. The computer name on the logon window and within My Computer > Properties should be identical.

 

It sounds as though you have already run Sysprep but it hasn't quite worked as intended. You must use the correct version of Sysprep with the version of Windows you're using. So for example, XP SP2 and XP SP3 have their own versions of Sysprep. The easiest way is to extract it from the Windows CD that you used to install Windows.

[srochford]

I have seen something similar happen in the past - it looks like the name change hasn't really worked (which shouldn't happen but this is a computer!)

 

Try removing from the domain, renaming to a dummy name and then back to the name you want and rejoin the domain. Note that leaving the domain could well delete the "good" account in AD as well as or instead of the broken one so it's worth doing all 3 removes first.

[Techie101]

thanks for the advice guys, i haven't done sysprep, in fact i have never done sysprep ever. the version of windows xp is a volume license version, i dunno if that makes a difference but ive ghosted computers in the past and never had to worry about the SID, but i'll try wot you suggest and see if it works, many thanks.