Sysprep Image and automating Computer Name

[Gareth Jefferies]

Hi,

We would like to deploy a sysprep'd Vista x64 image and we would like the
computer name automatically set, based on the asset number in the BIOS.

Does anyone know how to do this?

I have used a tool called WSName for Windows XP, using the WMI
SMBIOSAssetTag info, but this doesn't work in Vista.

Could Powershell or vbscript be used?

Thanks

Gareth

 

[Joe Morris]

We would like to deploy a sysprep'd Vista x64 image and we would like the
computer name automatically set, based on the asset number in the BIOS.

Does anyone know how to do this?

I have used a tool called WSName for Windows XP, using the WMI
SMBIOSAssetTag info, but this doesn't work in Vista.

I've not seen WSName before, but the author's web page flags it as "not
tested on Vista" and doesn't include Vista support in the section "What's in
the works." How does it fail for you? And perhaps more to the point, are
you running it as administrator, or with normal privileges? (UAC strikes
again...)

Could Powershell or vbscript be used?

You'll probably need to be recovering the string from WMI, so any tool which
can issue a WMI call, manipulate the response, and store it into the
Registry should be OK...as long as you don't let the UAC alligator chomp
down on your fingers. And assuming that Vista doesn't require some
completely new waving-of-hands to change the hostname programmatically.

The asset tag info is stored in the same WMI property in XP and Vista, so
that part of the code won't change.

Joe Morris

 

[Grey]

Be aware - if the machinery you are deploying TO isn't exactly the same as
the machinery where the image was CREATED (eg, every machine exactly the
same), then it wont work.