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Q306447: Sysprep.exe Generates Duplicate Computer Names

Article: Q306447
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 4.0,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6,4.0 SP6a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbsetup kbtool
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5, 4.0 SP6, 4.0 SP6a 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you deploy an image on your network computers, the computer names that are
generated by Sysprep.exe may be duplicates. After this occurs, you may receive
an error message that indicates that the computer names that were generated by
Sysprep.exe already exist on your network.

CAUSE
=====

This problem can occur after you used the Sysprep.exe tool to prepare a sample
computer for cloning, and you used the "ComputerName=Auto" entry in the
Sysprep.inf file to generate the random computer names. This problem can occur
because the Windows NT 4.0 Sysprep.exe file version 1.1 does not use the proper
logic to generate random computer names.

RESOLUTION
==========

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to
systems experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the
fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and
information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World
Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may
be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional
support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in
question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

  Date        Time         Size     File name     Platform
  --------------------------------------------------------
  06-Sep-2001 10:52        245,008  Sysprep.exe   Intel

NOTE: Because of file dependencies, this hotfix requires Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
Service Pack 6a.



STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0.


Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbenv kbsetup kbtool 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp5 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp6 kbWinNTSEnt400sp5 kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400sp6 kbWinNTS400sp5 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTW400sp6 kbWinNTSEnt400SP6a kbWinNTW400SP6a
Version           : :4.0,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5,4.0 SP6,4.0 SP6a
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

=============================================================================

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