How to Add a computer after the add user wizard has been run?

I don't have a box in front of me, but you should be able to just add the computer with teh connect computer wizard

Yes, I think you are correct but unless I am mistaken it doesnt join the domain in the same way as by using the add computer wizard in the SBS box. When you run the wizard in the SBS box you can choose to add feature such as active sync but connectcomputer simply joins the PC to the domain (I think) which is why I need this answer.

hi there, a simple way to resolve your problem is to open the 'Server Management' tab in SBS. From here, select 'Client Computers' from the left hand side of the screen. From here select the 'Manage Client Computers' link on the left to start the wizard. You can now create a new client computer and assign that computer to a specific user name. Then when you run the /connectcomputer command, it will automatically assign the computer to the user name that you have logged in with - in this case your own name.

hope this helps!!

You are correct, and the only way you should ever add a computer is via the Add-Computer wizard (which is part 2 of the Add-User Wizard).  So just follow kgreeneit's recommendation above, and you'll be at "part 2" of the process.

Jeff
TechSoEasy

Hi again, Sorry for the delay I was out of town for a couple of days.

This solution does not appear to give the expected result. Also can you clarify how to do this

You can now create a new client computer (ok can do that part) but how do you then do this.......and assign that computer to a specific user name?

It's interesting because I think I figured out why that is the case and a work around but I'd appreciate confirmation that you agree with me. It looks to me as if simply adding a computer without having added a user at the same time seems to make the wizard fail.

I added the new computer in the way suggested above by kgreenit (but could not see how to assign that computer to a specific name in the SBS box) and when I then went to the client PC and ran /ConnectComputer then clicked the "Network Configuration Setup" link I then got the words "run the wizard to complete networking setup" these words were not an active link. I checked all the obvious stuff and this is a new pc that has never been part of the domain so I concluded it must be something to do with the way I added the User and PC to the SBS box independantly.

So what I then did was added another user and PC to the SBS box to see if it made a difference. It does, now when I run /ConnectComputer the network configuration wizard runs as expected and I can choose users although at the moment I have not completed the wizard while I check this answer.

Thanks

Steve

COMPUTER names are completely separate to USER names.

So it doesnt matter what the computer name is, any domain user can login on it.
As part of the //server/connectcomputer wizard, you can choose which of the domain users gets to be added as a Local Admin , primarily for the purpose of installing the std apps like Outlook.

That said, we (unfortunately)  use similar names for computers as primary user.
computername = surname and first initial    eg ROBR  , user=rob

If i was setting up the network again, I'd assign each workstation according to its asset id, so i'd  never have to change the computer name when users inevitablby change.  Not that it's that hard to change the workstation names.
Look for one of the hundred or so posts where  Jeff has pointed out the correct method.

Hi, Thats an interesting point about the USER names and Computer names being seperate although the wizards in SBS box don't seem to consider them seperate and recommend PC names based on the User names. For me, I find it useful to have PC names matching users as it helps ID the machine on the network easily and also allows RDP to the machine name that is usually available in my head because of it being the "USERNAME01" in most cases.

I also think I am correct in saying you should be careful simply renaming workstations on SBS as it can cause issues from what I have been reading of Jeffs posts. My question is more related to the specific issue with the way /connectcomputer works (or more to the point does not work)  when I do what kgreenit and Jeff suggested.

Please excuse me if I am being a little over particular but I am trying to understand and adopt best practices so that I may in the future help others do the same.

Thanks

Steve

1. definetly not 'simply rename' about the rename process. need to follow the correct process as youve often read. it's just not that 'difficult' when youve done it 10 or 20 times.

2. your point about helpful knowing what the computer name is certainly correct. It's why we do use the RobR format for PC names as we have a couple of software licence managers that id the 'user' by Computername, rather than just IP . Very helpful when needing to kill a licence in use.

3.  //server/Connectcomputer connects to an UNUSED computername, setup using the AddComputer wizard.  Try adding 2 or 3 new computers using the server wizard and then run the //connectcomputer app on a new workstation. You get to choose which computername to use.    
Then you get to 'assign user' (aka make them local admins) to the pc in question. You get to choose from the entire list of domain users (added via the AddUser wizard) in the SBSUsers OU.

Thanks for that info, that pretty much ties up the loose ends for me and brings me to a conclusion about my original question.

Based on answer 3. from robberbaron is seems that using the "Add Computer" wizard in SBS box is not enough on its own to trigger the /connectcomputer wizard if the "Add User" wizard has also been run on the SBS box seperately. Do the whole process of adduser/add computer and all works fine. Otherwise you have to add anotheruser/add another PC to trigger the /connectcomputer into life.

Unless I did something wrong in the first place when I added the PC? (maybe Jeff can come back here?)

That's not true... the "Add Computer" wizard works just fine.  However, if you have previously attempted to run the http://<servername>/connectcomputer wizard on that particular workstation, then you need to be using a different name when running the "Add Computer" wizard.  

These are the EXACT steps which must be taken for a machine that was either previously joined to the domain, or for a machine that ConnectComputer was attempted but failed.

The following needs to be done with the client machine:
1.  Log in with THAT machine's LOCAL administrator account.  Do not use a DOMAIN account to log in.
2.  Unjoin the domain into a WORKGROUP
3.  Change the name of the computer
4.  Delete or rename the following directory C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\Clients if it exists
5.  Ensure that DHCP is enabled and there are  no manually configured network settings
6.  Reboot

Then on the server, from the Server Management Console:
1.  Remove the client computers if it still shows in the Client Computer screen on the Server Management Console
2.  Add the client with it's NEW name using the Add Computer wizard

Then, go back to the client machine and join the domain by opening Internet Explorer and navigating to http://servername/connectcomputer

NOTE:  YOU MUST HAVE AN AVAILABLE USER ACCOUNT FOR EACH WORKSTATION YOU WANT TO ADD.  
But from your original question, if you ran the Add Computer Wizard after you had already added Steve with the Add User Wizard you should have not had any problems at all.

Just to be clear about what's happening here... when you run the Add User Wizard from the management console, it actually runs a command line entry of "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\Administration\addusr.exe /c"  The /c option makes it automatically run "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\ClientSetup\scw.exe" immediately after the Add User wizard.  SCW.exe is the Add Computer Wizard, so in essence, it's running it separately anyhow.

As for Client Computer Naming Conventions... I originally had used a descriptive name for workstations (such as DELL4600-01, DELL4600-02, etc.)  But have begun using the user's name along with a number (such as ROB01, STEVE01) and then if I have to unjoin, rejoin with the steps above ROB01 can become ROB02.

The reason for using the user's name is that it makes it easier for users to find their assigned computer when connecting to Remote Web Workplace.  Also, I make it a practice to not reassign a workstation to a new user until that computer has been thoroughly inspected and cleaned up.  Once I've verified that the computer is in good working order and was configured on the domain properly I rename the workstation to the new user's name by simply logging in as a domain administrator and right clicking My Computer > Properties > Computer Name TAB > Change...   and put in the new name.  This will automatically update the Active Directory and DNS entries.  

Jeff
TechSoEasy

Jeff,

First to say - This PC has never had the /connectcomputer wizard complete the process and has never joined the domain.
Secondly, thanks so much for your input on this, it is truly appreciated. All of those points are helpful and I will make a note to never ask any of those again.

Having said that and given your most recent answer then I don't think my original question is yet answered. So here is a recap of my query/problem

1. I added a user with the "Add User" wizard but I did not complete the wizard through the Add a PC part of the process.
2. I asked if I could resume that process to make the /connectcomputer wizard work (as no PC existed for that user yet)
3. kgreenit said..

open the 'Server Management' tab in SBS. From here, select 'Client Computers' from the left hand side of the screen. From here select the 'Manage Client Computers' link on the left to start the wizard. You can now create a new client computer and assign that computer to a specific user name. Then when you run the /connectcomputer command, it will automatically assign the computer to the user name that you have logged in with - in this case your own name.

4. TechSoEasy said..

the only way you should ever add a computer is via the Add-Computer wizard (which is part 2 of the Add-User Wizard).  So just follow kgreeneit's recommendation above, and you'll be at "part 2" of the process.

So I did, but that part did not work as I expected, and so I said...

5. I added the new computer in the way suggested above by kgreenit (but could not see how to assign that computer to a specific name in the SBS box) and when I then went to the client PC and ran /ConnectComputer then clicked the "Network Configuration Setup" link I then got the words "run the wizard to complete networking setup" these words were not an active link. I checked all the obvious stuff and this is a new pc that has never been part of the domain so I concluded it must be something to do with the way I added the User and PC to the SBS box independantly.

So what I then did was added another user and PC to the SBS box to see if it made a difference. It does, now when I run /ConnectComputer the network configuration wizard runs as expected and I can choose users although at the moment I have not completed the wizard while I check this answer.

In other words after I created a new user and pc through the add user wizard I am now able to run /connectcomputer and choose any users and pc's where I was not able to before.

So maybe this is an observation more than a question?

Thanks

Steve