How to Change a Windows NT Computer Name in an NT AS Domain

MORE INFORMATION

Pages 151-152 in the Windows NT "System Guide" instruct you to change a Windows NT workstation's computer name as follows:

1. Have the Windows NT Advanced Server domain administrator create an account for the new computer name.
2. In the Network Settings dialog box, choose the Change button next to the computer name.
3. In the Computer Name dialog box, type a unique name (the new name) for the computer, and choose OK.

This procedure results in your Windows NT workstation being unable to log on in the Windows NT Advanced Server domain with any user account. (It makes no difference if the Windows NT Advanced Server domain administrator creates the computer name before or after the computer name change.)

If you find that you are unable to log on in an Windows NT Advanced Server domain after a name change, you should log on to your local database as an admin user. Next, leave the Windows NT Advanced Server domain by either joining another Windows NT Advanced Server domain or by selecting any workgroup. After you reboot the system, your machine can rejoin the original domain with the new computer name; you will be correctly prompted with the "WELCOME TO THE <original domain> DOMAIN" message.

NOTE: You cannot add the new computer name for the Windows NT workstation in the domain by reentering the current domain name and providing an Admin account for the domain. The machine must leave and rejoin the domain.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Changing a Computer Name on a Windows NT Workstation in a Windows NT Advanced Server Domain

1. Create a new machine account for the Windows NT workstation in the Windows NT Advanced Server domain.
2. Choose the Network icon in Control Panel, choose the Change button next to the current domain name, and enter any workgroup name or the name of another Windows NT Advanced Server domain.
   
   NOTE: If you choose another Windows NT Advanced Server domain, you will need an administrator of that domain to create a machine account for you in Server Manager or you will need to provide an admin account and password so that you can add the machine account to the Windows NT Advanced Server domain.
3. Choose the Network icon in Control Panel and change the computer name of the Windows NT workstation to the new name.
   
   NOTE: Once a computer name is changed, the Change button for the domain named is dimmed, which indicates that you cannot change the computer name and the domain name at the same time unless you change the domain name first, as indicated by the order of steps 2 and 3.
4. When prompted, reboot the system in order for the domain name and computer name changes to take affect.
5. Log on to the local machine with Admin privileges.
6. Choose the Network icon in Control Panel, choose the Change button next to the domain name, and enter the original domain name.
   
   NOTE: In step 1, you created a new machine account, and as a result, you will not need to provide a valid administrator and password for the original domain.
   
   You will receive the "WELCOME TO THE <original domain> DOMAIN" message.
7. When prompted, reboot the system so that the domain name change can take effect.

You should now be able to log on to the Windows NT Advanced Server domain with any valid account.