Changing PC Names on Network

As long as you change the computer name properly, the servers will adjust.

In 2000, right-click on my computer --> properties --> network identification --> Properties and update the computer name.

You will have no problems in changing the names on the systems so long as they are all unique. Pick a good naming convention and stick to it for all your systems. A word of advice though (for security reasons), don't name them things like Accounting, HR, etc. - that just serves as a "roadmap" for those with malicious intent. Hackers love it when you tell them where to go...

Good Luck!

ok, when i right-click on
My Computer->Properties->
Network Identification->Properties
after I change the name and click ok, it prompts me for a name and password of an account that has permission to change the name. When I try any name or password that applies to me it gives me: "the credentials supplied conflict with an exsisting set of credentials". To my knowledge have all admin rights. extra 100 points to anyone who can successfully figure this one out! Thanks ~Brian

Point value changed by question poster.

Use the Win2K domain Administrator account when you are prompted for the security credentials.
So, if your Win2k domain is MYOFFICE.COM, then use the Administrator login/password you see when you open AD Users & Computers for MYOFFICE.COM

About your comment:
-you must use a domain admin account (not local admin account) which have rights to add computer to domain
-don't use a computer name which allready exist (first remove this old name from server manager if you want to use it again)
Also maybe you need to reestablish trust relationship between computer and domain. Set computer as workgroup member. Reboot. Set as domain member. Reboot.
When apply these changes in use the domain admin account (name and password).

Hi Brian. Double check to see that the account credentials you're using aren't already connected to the server previously. If you make a connection to a server using one account, then make another connection to the same server using a different account (with the first connection still intact), you receive the above error message. To make the connection with the other account, disconnect the previous connection(s) to the server.

Whoooaa!!.. Hold this horse on the answers here.

You said you have Windows 2000 workstations and you want to rename the workstations netbios name.

IF you have all the workstations as members of a 'NT domain' or '2000 Active Directory' THIS WILL MATTER!!.

Why: because each computer name requires an account in the domain/directory.

If you use WINS: no problem as the WINS registration will automatically record the new computer name with ip address. If you use DNS (older than 2k version): you will have to manually update hostnames. If you use dynamic DNS in Active Directory then the hostnames will be updated dynamic.

Have fun.

Since you have enough answers to spin your head around, i have a question. If you are on a network with the server handling all the accounts without Active Directory, then you will need to remove the name from the directory first on the server. Then you can change the machine name on the workstation. The problem you are having results from already having a machine name assigned to the network and you are trying to assign a new name to it. As long as your on the same domain, the server will recognize the new machine name when you log into the network (domain).

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