Utility to remove orphan objects

[seamus19]

Does anyone know of a utility that can remove orphan computers. I am running Windows 2000 Server. Computers are constantly being renamed during images. The old name remains in Active Directory, as a result it looks as though there are more Windows 2000 Computers than there actually are.
I have read that one of the functons of Ntdsutil is to manage the Active Directory Database. If this is the utility to use for this, does anyone know how to use it?
thanks

 

[AaronPower]

The problem you have is, "How do you tell what is orphaned?"

If you use Microsoft RIS for imaging, and set it up correctly, it will re-attach each PC to the same object in AD each time it is re-imaged (by using the unique GUID of the computer).

But if you are using some other method of imaging, how is AD to tell that an object is orphaned and not just idle?

There are techniques to find when a machine was last "seen" on the network. This may be sufficient for your purpose, or may be not.

Aaron.

 

[seamus19]

I have used RIS and it does work great,however on occasion we have used GHOST which after ghosting the machine will need to be rejoined to the domain and unless you have the correct name of the existing machine you end up with a various number of computer names for the same machine.
I thought there may be a utilty that would detect a machine that has not be active for a period of time.
What are the techniques to find when a machine has been last "seen" on the network?
thanks Seamus