Computer name does not match the Windows 2000 domain name after upgrade

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This article was previously published under Q262376

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SYMPTOMS

The fully qualified domain name computer name does not match the Windows 2000 domain name because a Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 upgrade automatically clears the Change primary DNS suffix when domain membership changes check box. After the domain controller promotion process (Dcpromo.exe) is run on a domain controller, you are unable to change the computer name.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue install the Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260910/ ) How to obtain the latest Windows 2000 service pack

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WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, upgrade from a Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 domain controller as usual until after you reboot the computer and Dcpromo.exe automatically runs. Quit Dcpromo.exe, click to select the Change primary DNS suffix when domain membership changes check box, and then restart Dcpromo.exe.

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Windows 2000.

This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 1.

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MORE INFORMATION

To install the hotfix, upgrade to Windows 2000. When the upgrade is finished and Dcpromo.exe runs, quit Dcpromo.exe and run the hotfix package. Once the hotfix package installation is complete, restart Dcpromo.exe and complete your Windows 2000 upgrade.

For more information about how to install Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes at the same time, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

249149 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/249149/ ) Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes

For more information about DNS, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

258503 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258503/ ) DNS registration errors 5788 and 5789 when DNS domain and Active Directory domain name differ

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257623 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257623/ ) The DNS suffix of the computer name of a new domain controller may not match the name of the domain after you install upgrade a Windows NT 4.0 Primary domain controller to Windows 2000

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