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@timnew
Last active March 22, 2025 07:46
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Script to Rename Computer without Reboot
$ComputerName = "New Name"
Remove-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" -name "Hostname"
Remove-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" -name "NV Hostname"
Set-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Computername\Computername" -name "Computername" -value $ComputerName
Set-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Computername\ActiveComputername" -name "Computername" -value $ComputerName
Set-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" -name "Hostname" -value $ComputerName
Set-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" -name "NV Hostname" -value $ComputerName
Set-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" -name "AltDefaultDomainName" -value $ComputerName
Set-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" -name "DefaultDomainName" -value $ComputerName
@overdrive80
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overdrive80 commented Feb 5, 2023

@echo off

set "cName=ROG-ISRA"
set "OEM=ROG STRIX B650E-F GAMING WIFI"

REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OEMInformation" /t REG_SZ /v Model /d "%OEM%" /f

wmic computersystem where name="%computername%" call rename name="%cName%"

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" /v "Hostname" /d %cName% /f
REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" /v "NV Hostname" /d  %cName% /f

set "sysSets=SystemSettings.exe"

tasklist /fi "ImageName eq %sysSets%" /fo csv 2>NUL | find /I "%sysSets%">NUL
if "%ERRORLEVEL%"=="0" (
	taskkill /F /IM %sysSets% 
	start ms-settings:
)

EDIT: More simply and best

@Raazor
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Raazor commented Aug 6, 2024

FYI I had the issue that I needed a name change without reboot AND running PsExec for another user session on the same machine afterwards. I got this Error: Creating key file on $newComputername. The user name or password is incorrect / The network location cannot be reached.

Fix was to add the following lines to rename.ps1

# Restart service to have PsExec working after name change; wait 5 seconds to be safe
Restart-Service Server -Force
Start-Sleep 

@Hdwrguy
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Hdwrguy commented Dec 10, 2024

So I found this script and thought it would be awesome. The script does rename the computer and it looks good from that end, but in AD, the name does not update. This causes issue with SCCM and other management tools. I ended up renaming them the old fashioned way but with Powershell that prompts me for my AD PW.

@ricoroodenburg
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So I found this script and thought it would be awesome. The script does rename the computer and it looks good from that end, but in AD, the name does not update. This causes issue with SCCM and other management tools. I ended up renaming them the old fashioned way but with Powershell that prompts me for my AD PW.

That makes sense; you can't just change a name in Active Directory without authentication. That system is completely separate from the local machine.

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