Retrieve network computer's name from just the hard drive?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jason Cravens
  • Start date Start date
J

Jason Cravens

I have a hard drive that i need to retrieve the network/domain computer name
from? I have the hard drive hooked up to my computer and can pull all the
files. i am curious to where I can find the computers name? The computer is
an older system and has around 15 users under docs and settings.
 
I have a hard drive that i need to retrieve the network/domain computer name
from? I have the hard drive hooked up to my computer and can pull all the
files. i am curious to where I can find the computers name? The computer is
an older system and has around 15 users under docs and settings.
Click to expand...

For me, my computer icon has my computername labelled.
If you don't have that, right-click your computer icon, select
properties,
go to "Computer Name" tab, and you should find want you want.

Alternativerly, open a cmd prompt, and type:
echo %computername%

You may also try d/l BGIfo and run it; it shows a lot of your
computer
info onto your screen.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897557.aspx
 
I only have the hard drive, I have it attached to my computer with some
external sata drive cables to transfer some information. I cannot click my
computer as all i have is the file structure?
 
I only have the hard drive, I have it attached to my computer with some
external sata drive cables to transfer some information. I cannot click my
computer as all i have is the file structure?
Click to expand...

I am confused.
Is your HDD currently being attached to your computer.
Where is your computer?

If your HDD is not currently connected to your computer, you
won't get the computername where your HDD previously attached,
unless the HDD was the OS drive storing registry info.

Does your HDD has c:\Windows\system32\config\SAM and other
registry files there ?
 
You may be able to retrieve it if you can load the registry hive of the
attached drive. Open regedit, click Help on the menu bar, click the Index
tab and scroll to "loading a hive into the registry". If successful it will
load as a subkey to the hive chosen to load it into.

As always, backup the registry or any key before making any changes,
better yet to have a complete system backup to restore the system should
anything go wrong. Even better yet, stay out of the registry if you aren't
fully aware of the ramifications one slipup can do and/or you're not
comfortable working in the registry.



How to back up, edit, and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows
Server 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/en-us

Description of the Microsoft Windows registry
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/en-us



--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
Back
Top