Rename a remote computer using Desktop Central

Here’s a quick post on the latest request on the Desktop Central forum. The requirement was on renaming a remote computer.

This functionality is not available in Desktop Central. The free Windows tools from Desktop Central have various associated tools except one for renaming remote PCs. So, here is quick help with a script to rename one remote computer in a network that is under Desktop Central’s management.

How do you use it?

Download and save the script. Edit the first line’s new-comp-name value to your desired name. Make sure it doesn’t exceed 15 characters.

Download the script and add it as EXE software in Software Deployment. Choose the reboot option while deploying the configuration; this will rename and reboot the computer so it comes back with a new name.

sNewName = “new-comp-name”

Set oShell = CreateObject (“WSCript.shell” )

sCCS = “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\”
sTcpipParamsRegPath = sCCS & “Services\Tcpip\Parameters\”
sCompNameRegPath = sCCS & “Control\ComputerName\”

With oShell
.RegDelete sTcpipParamsRegPath & “Hostname”
.RegDelete sTcpipParamsRegPath & “NV Hostname”

.RegWrite sCompNameRegPath & “ComputerName\ComputerName”, sNewName
.RegWrite sCompNameRegPath & “ActiveComputerName\ComputerName”, sNewName
.RegWrite sTcpipParamsRegPath & “Hostname”, sNewName
.RegWrite sTcpipParamsRegPath & “NV Hostname”, sNewName
End With ‘ oShell

I hope this helps. Let me know your comments and concerns below.