Primary domain controller servername changed by mistake

Question

Dear All,

someone by mistake changed the server name of our primary domain controller (physical server). the server name was dc-hq.xxxxxxx.com after restarting the new name is IVN701254.xxxxxxxxxx.com

i tried to rename the domain controller to the original name with no luck. when the screen prompt to me to put the credentials i used a domain admins account.

the error message is : the following error occurred attempting to rename the computer to DC-HQ.xxxxxxxxxxx.com. the specified account does not exist

how i can restore the old server name? please help

Answer 1

You can use PowerShell but this is a very risky move.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/rename-computer?view=powershell-7.3

better option may be to stand up a new one for replacement.

I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2019 or 2022, patch it fully, license it, join existing domain, add active directory domain services, promote it also making it a GC (recommended), transfer FSMO roles over (optional), transfer pdc emulator role (optional), use dcdiag / repadmin tools to again verify health, when all is good you can decommission / demote old one.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--