VB Script to change computer names and AD computer account remotely

Forums

My Profile

Inbox

Address Book

My Subscription

My Forums

VB Script to change computer names and AD computer account remotely

Logged in as: Guest

arrSession:exec spGetSession 2,2,31378

	Active Users: There are 0 members and 0 guests.
	Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Scripting] >> WSH & Client Side VBScript >> VB Script to change computer names and AD computer account remotely
Do you like VisualBasicScript.com? Link to us and help spread the word about our forum. Thanks!

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

VB Script to change computer names and AD computer acco... - 2/21/2006 8:09:16 AM

abulsara

Posts: 1
Score: 0
Joined: 2/21/2006
Status: offline

Hello to all. Let me first start by saying that by no means am I a script writer. What I am looking from someone is a script where I can change the computer name and the computer account for Active Directory network. Maybe, pull the computer names that needs to be changed from an excel file. We have about 200 workstations and we would like to make all the computer names comply with the company standard. I don't want to manually connect to the workstation through VNC, log in, change the computer name and then reboot. Once that is done, then go to ADUC and change the computer account name as well.

Hope anyone can help.

Post #: 1

RE: VB Script to change computer names and AD computer ... - 2/21/2006 8:30:18 AM

edavis6678

Posts: 122
Score: 0
Joined: 1/12/2006
Status: offline

I've looked into this already.

there is a WMI method that you can use to change a computer name remotely, but it does NOT work when the computer is a member of a domain.

I basically didn't do anymore research into the mattter since I couldn't do it remotely.

(in reply to abulsara)

Post #: 2

RE: VB Script to change computer names and AD computer ... - 2/21/2006 10:45:34 PM

Reodor

Posts: 2
Score: 0
Joined: 2/21/2006
Status: offline

Hi

I'm not aware of any vbscript-commands which can do what you ask for. One of the tools you can use instead is NETDOM (latest version comes with Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit).

If you use "NETDOM RENAMECOMPUTER ...." you will rename both the computer and the computeraccount in AD.

Good luck

(in reply to abulsara)

Post #: 3

RE: VB Script to change computer names and AD computer ... - 2/21/2006 11:30:17 PM

crazymatt

Posts: 296
Score: 0
Joined: 3/4/2005
From:
Status: offline

Here is a script i used for doing what you want. The script do use the netdom.exe so you will need that.
It was part of a bigger script so i have removed some stuff so the following script is untested. hopefully i havnt removed anything important. :D
You will have to edit <domain> in the RenameComp function to whatever your domain is called. Just search for <domain> and put your own there (without the <>).

'Change computername.vbs
'
' Created by CrazyMatt
' The script changes both the local name and the name in AD
'
' netdom.exe must be in the same dir as the script (found on win2k3 srv resourcekit)
'
' The script uses "changename.xls" (in the same dir as script) where the old name is in Column 1 and the new in Colum 2
' Row 1 is used for description and shouldnt have any computernames
' 
' The script first checks if the computer is reachable and then changes the name and reboots the computer.
'
' Last it writes to either Sucess.txt or Error.txt

sAdminName = InputBox("Is used to change the computername" & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & _
"Even if you have to specify an adminaccount here" & vbNewLine & _ 
"its important you are running the script with admin rights!!!" & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & _
"Enter an adminaccount with AD rights" & vbNewLine & "EG: user-adm",sAdminName)
If sAdminName = "" Then Wscript.Quit(1)
sAdminPwd = InputBox("Specify password" & vbNewLine & "", sAdminPwd)
If sAdminPwd = "" Then Wscript.Quit(1)
sReboot = MsgBox("Do you want the computer(s) to be restarted after the namechange?" &_
vbNewLine & "", vbYesNo)
sWaitTime = InputBox("Specify seconds to wait before scripts starts" & vbNewLine & "Default is 0", sWaitTime)
If sWaitTime = "" Then  sWaitTime = 0
sSleepTime = sWaitTime * 1000
Const ForAppending = 8
Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set oNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
sSkriptPath=left(wscript.scriptfullname,len(wscript.scriptfullname)-len(wscript.scriptname)) 
Set oOldName = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Set oNewName = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
Set objWorkbook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open _
  (sSkriptPath & "changename.xls")
Set oFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set oSucessTextFile = oFSO.OpenTextFile _
  (sSkriptPath & "sucess.txt", ForAppending, True)
Set oErrorTextFile = oFSO.OpenTextFile _
  (sSkriptPath & "error.txt", ForAppending, True)
WScript.Sleep(sSleepTime)
'WScript.Echo "Waited for " & sWaitTime & " seconds. And " & sSleepTime  'Debugkod
'WScript.Echo sReboot & sPcRegKey           'Debugkod
i = 1
intRow = 2
on error resume next
Do Until objExcel.Cells(intRow,1).Value = ""
'wscript.echo introw
Set oOldName = objExcel.Cells(intRow,1)
Set oNewName = objExcel.Cells(intRow,2)
'wscript.echo oOldName & " will change name to " & oNewName    'Debugcode
WScript.Sleep(2000)   'Wits 2 sec for avoiding errors
'Checks if the computer is alive
Set oScriptExec = oShell.Exec("ping -n 2 -w 1000 " & oOldName)
strPingStdOut = LCase(oScriptExec.StdOut.ReadAll)

' Old pingstyle (for compability with pre win2k machines) could be be switched to win32 style ping if wanted
If InStr(strPingStdOut, "reply fr")  Then
LoggedIn
Else
'  WScript.Echo oOldName & ": Host unreachable"      'Debugkod
WriteError
End If

intRow = intRow + 1
Loop
objExcel.Quit
'==== Function Logged in check
'Checks if anyone is logged in to the puter (for deciding wich way the computer should be rebooted in)
Function Loggedin

on error resume next
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _ 
&  oOldName & "\root\cimv2") 
Set colComputer = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
  ("Select * from Win32_ComputerSystem")

For Each objComputer in colComputer
IF IsNull(objComputer.UserName) then
' Wscript.Echo oOldName & " is alive and noone logged in!"   'Debugkod
RenameComp
RebootComp
WriteSucess
else
'   Wscript.Echo oOldName & " is alive and " & objComputer.UserName & " is logged in." 'Debugkod
 RenameComp
If sReboot = 6 Then
Set oScriptExec = oShell.Exec("shutdown -r -m \\" & oOldName & " -t 600 -f -c " & Chr(34) & "Your computer will now be restarted for a namechange, plz close all open files and save them"& Chr(34) )
End If
WriteSucess
end if
next

End Function
'============

'==== Function Write Sucess
function WriteSucess
oSucessTextFile.WriteLine(oOldName & " was sucessfully renamed to " & oNewName)
End Function
'============
'==== Function Write Error
function WriteError
oErrorTextFile.WriteLine(oOldName & " was not renamed to "  & oNewName)
End Function
'============

'==== Function RenameComp
function RenameComp
'WScript.Echo "ReNameing.."   'Debugkod

Set oScriptExec = oShell.Exec("netdom renamecomputer " & oOldName & " /NewName:" & oNewName & " /UserD:<domain>\" & sAdminName & " /PasswordD:" & sAdminPwd & " /UserO:<domain>\" & sAdminName & " /PasswordO:" & sAdminPwd & " /Force")
' WScript.Echo "netdom renamecomputer " & oOldName & " /NewName:" & oNewName & " /UserD:<domain>\" & sAdminName & " /PasswordD:" & sAdminPwd & " /UserO:<domain>\" & sAdminName & " /PasswordO:" & sAdminPwd & " /Force"

End Function
'============

'==== Function RebootComp
function RebootComp
on error resume Next

If sReboot = 6 Then 
WScript.Sleep(10000)

Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
  & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate,(Shutdown)}!\\" & _
      oOldName & "\root\cimv2")
Set colOperatingSystems = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
  ("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")
'err.clear ' Debugcode 
For Each objOperatingSystem in colOperatingSystems
  objOperatingSystem.Reboot()
Next
End If
End Function
'============

objTextFile.Close
set i = Nothing
wscript.echo "Done!"

Excuse the formating, my original formating seems to be lost when i pasted it in here.
Hope it helps!

/CM

< Message edited by crazymatt -- 2/21/2006 11:32:15 PM >

_____________________________

-There is only 10 sorts of people, those who understand binary and those who dont.

(in reply to abulsara)

Post #: 4

RE: VB Script to change computer names and AD computer ... - 2/22/2006 1:58:08 AM

ebgreen

Posts: 5069
Score: 31
Joined: 7/12/2005
Status: offline

Yeah I don't know what it is about this board, but formatting just doesn't seem to work for some people and works just fine for others. Here is crazymatt's code with formatting (I am one of the lucky ones):

'Change computername.vbs
'
' Created by CrazyMatt
' The script changes both the local name and the name in AD
'
' netdom.exe must be in the same dir as the script (found on win2k3 srv resourcekit)
'
' The script uses "changename.xls" (in the same dir as script) where the old name is in Column 1 and the new in Colum 2
' Row 1 is used for description and shouldnt have any computernames
' 
' The script first checks if the computer is reachable and then changes the name and reboots the computer.
'
' Last it writes to either Sucess.txt or Error.txt

sAdminName = InputBox("Is used to change the computername" & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & _
   "Even if you have to specify an adminaccount here" & vbNewLine & _ 
   "its important you are running the script with admin rights!!!" & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & _
   "Enter an adminaccount with AD rights" & vbNewLine & "EG: user-adm",sAdminName)
If sAdminName = "" Then Wscript.Quit(1)
sAdminPwd = InputBox("Specify password" & vbNewLine & "", sAdminPwd)
If sAdminPwd = "" Then Wscript.Quit(1)
sReboot = MsgBox("Do you want the computer(s) to be restarted after the namechange?" &_
   vbNewLine & "", vbYesNo)
sWaitTime = InputBox("Specify seconds to wait before scripts starts" & vbNewLine & "Default is 0", sWaitTime)
If sWaitTime = "" Then  sWaitTime = 0
sSleepTime = sWaitTime * 1000
Const ForAppending = 8
Set oShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set oNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
sSkriptPath=left(wscript.scriptfullname,len(wscript.scriptfullname)-len(wscript.scriptname)) 
Set oOldName = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Set oNewName = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
Set objWorkbook = objExcel.Workbooks.Open _
 (sSkriptPath & "changename.xls")
Set oFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set oSucessTextFile = oFSO.OpenTextFile _
 (sSkriptPath & "sucess.txt", ForAppending, True)
Set oErrorTextFile = oFSO.OpenTextFile _
 (sSkriptPath & "error.txt", ForAppending, True)
WScript.Sleep(sSleepTime)
'WScript.Echo "Waited for " & sWaitTime & " seconds. And " & sSleepTime  'Debugkod
'WScript.Echo sReboot & sPcRegKey           'Debugkod
i = 1
intRow = 2
on error resume next
Do Until objExcel.Cells(intRow,1).Value = ""
   'wscript.echo introw
   Set oOldName = objExcel.Cells(intRow,1)
   Set oNewName = objExcel.Cells(intRow,2)
   'wscript.echo oOldName & " will change name to " & oNewName    'Debugcode
   WScript.Sleep(2000)   'Wits 2 sec for avoiding errors
   'Checks if the computer is alive
   Set oScriptExec = oShell.Exec("ping -n 2 -w 1000 " & oOldName)
   strPingStdOut = LCase(oScriptExec.StdOut.ReadAll)
   
   ' Old pingstyle (for compability with pre win2k machines) could be be switched to win32 style ping if wanted
   If InStr(strPingStdOut, "reply fr")  Then
       Loggedin
   Else
       '  WScript.Echo oOldName & ": Host unreachable"      'Debugkod
       WriteError
   End If
   intRow = intRow + 1
Loop
objExcel.Quit
'==== Function Logged in check
'Checks if anyone is logged in to the puter (for deciding wich way the computer should be rebooted in)
Function Loggedin

on error resume Next
   Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
       & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _ 
       &  oOldName & "\root\cimv2") 
   Set colComputer = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
     ("Select * from Win32_ComputerSystem")
   
   For Each objComputer in colComputer
       IF IsNull(objComputer.UserName) Then
           ' Wscript.Echo oOldName & " is alive and noone logged in!"   'Debugkod
           RenameComp
           RebootComp
           WriteSucess
       Else
           '   Wscript.Echo oOldName & " is alive and " & objComputer.UserName & " is logged in." 'Debugkod
            RenameComp
           If sReboot = 6 Then
               Set oScriptExec = oShell.Exec("shutdown -r -m \\" & oOldName & " -t 600 -f -c " & Chr(34) & "Your computer will now be restarted for a namechange, plz close all open files and save them"& Chr(34) )
           End If
           WriteSucess
       end If
   Next
End Function
'============

'==== Function Write Sucess
function WriteSucess
   oSucessTextFile.WriteLine(oOldName & " was sucessfully renamed to " & oNewName)
End Function
'============
'==== Function Write Error
function WriteError
   oErrorTextFile.WriteLine(oOldName & " was not renamed to "  & oNewName)
End Function
'============

'==== Function RenameComp
function RenameComp
   'WScript.Echo "ReNameing.."   'Debugkod
   
   Set oScriptExec = oShell.Exec("netdom renamecomputer " & oOldName & " /NewName:" & oNewName & " /UserD:<domain>\" & sAdminName & " /PasswordD:" & sAdminPwd & " /UserO:<domain>\" & sAdminName & " /PasswordO:" & sAdminPwd & " /Force")
   ' WScript.Echo "netdom renamecomputer " & oOldName & " /NewName:" & oNewName & " /UserD:<domain>\" & sAdminName & " /PasswordD:" & sAdminPwd & " /UserO:<domain>\" & sAdminName & " /PasswordO:" & sAdminPwd & " /Force"

End Function
'============

'==== Function RebootComp
function RebootComp
   on error resume Next
   
   If sReboot = 6 Then 
       WScript.Sleep(10000)
       
       Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
         & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate,(Shutdown)}!\\" & _
             oOldName & "\root\cimv2")
       Set colOperatingSystems = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
         ("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")
       'err.clear ' Debugcode 
       For Each objOperatingSystem in colOperatingSystems
         objOperatingSystem.Reboot()
       Next
   End If
End Function
'============

objTextFile.Close
set i = Nothing
wscript.echo "Done!"

_____________________________

"... when you are good and crazy, oooh, oooh, oooh, the sky is the limit!" - The Tick
Goog places to start:http://www.visualbasicscript.com/m_24727/tm.htm
http://www.visualbasicscript.com/m_47117/tm.htm

(in reply to crazymatt)

Post #: 5

RE: VB Script to change computer names and AD computer ... - 2/22/2006 2:19:50 AM

crazymatt

Posts: 296
Score: 0
Joined: 3/4/2005
From:
Status: offline

Tnx for the help eb

/CM

_____________________________

-There is only 10 sorts of people, those who understand binary and those who dont.

(in reply to ebgreen)

Post #: 6

RE: VB Script to change computer names and AD computer ... - 12/29/2006 7:19:15 AM

alienprotein

Posts: 45
Score: 0
Joined: 2/23/2005
From: USA
Status: offline

I have been tooling around with this script and don't get why I get errors on each line that contains: "<span class="high">computer</span>" Each time I run the script there is an error telling me Error: expected ")" Code: 800A03EE

I must not be understanding the instructions very well. Can someone enlighten me? Please!

(in reply to crazymatt)

Post #: 7

RE: VB Script to change computer names and AD computer ... - 12/30/2006 3:21:21 AM

dm_4ever

Posts: 2672
Score: 46
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: Orange County, California
Status: offline

Remove those tags span tags. They shouldn't be there.

_____________________________

dm_4ever

My philosophy: K.I.S.S - Keep It Simple Stupid
Read Me: http://www.visualbasicscript.com/m_24727/tm.htm
Frequently Asked Stuff: http://www.visualbasicscript.com/m_47117/tm.htm

(in reply to alienprotein)

Post #: 8

RE: VB Script to change computer names and AD computer ... - 1/3/2007 3:48:39 AM

alienprotein

Posts: 45
Score: 0
Joined: 2/23/2005
From: USA
Status: offline

Well this script is now officially tested and verified non functional.

1. Script creates both failure.txt and success.txt files at the same time. <-can't tell if it is supposed to create both, but if so, this makes no sense to me.
2. Does not create changename.xls - Not even sure if it is supposed to create the excel file. <-have modified my test script to create the spreadsheet
3. Unsure what objTextFile is equal too, so that errors when debugging.
4. At no time does it prompt for a new computer name, nor does it use a name that I manually placed in col 2 of changename.xls. In fact the spreadsheet is not being written to at all after it is created. I can correct this but always have problems with Dictionary objects.

crazymatt,
could you post all of the code this was taken from, so I can figure out where I am going wrong when I attempt to fix this?

It is hard to believe renaming a domain PC could be so darn hard to do with a script.

(in reply to crazymatt)

Post #: 9

If you found our site useful please link to us <a href="http://www.visualbasicscript.com">VisualBasicScript.com</a>.

All Forums >> [Scripting] >> WSH & Client Side VBScript >> VB Script to change computer names and AD computer account remotely

Page: [1]

Jump to:

New Messages	No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages	Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages	Locked w/o New Messages

Post New Thread

Reply to Message

Post New Poll

Submit Vote

Delete My Own Post

Delete My Own Thread

Rate Posts