VBScript Scripting Techniques: Retrieving Computer Names

In this section I'll show you how to retrieve a computer name using various scripting techniques.

Environment Variable
VBScript Code:
Set wshShell = CreateObject( "WScript.Shell" ) strComputerName = wshShell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings( "%COMPUTERNAME%" ) WScript.Echo "Computer Name: " & strComputerName
Requirements:
Windows version:	NT 4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, or Vista
Network:	Stand-alone, workgroup, NT domain, or AD
Client software:	N/A
Script Engine:	WSH
Summarized:	Works in Windows NT 4 or later, .vbs with CSCRIPT.EXE or WSCRIPT.EXE only. Doesn't work in Windows 95, 98 or ME, nor in Internet Explorer (HTAs).*

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WshNetwork
VBScript Code:
Set wshNetwork = CreateObject( "WScript.Network" ) strComputerName = wshNetwork.ComputerName WScript.Echo "Computer Name: " & strComputerName
Requirements:
Windows version:	Windows 98, ME, NT 4, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista
Network:	Stand-alone, workgroup, NT domain, or AD
Client software:	Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 98, ME, and NT 4 (no longer available for download?)
Script Engine:	WSH
Summarized:	Works in Windows 98 or later, .vbs with CSCRIPT.EXE or WSCRIPT.EXE only. Doesn't work in Windows 95, nor in Internet Explorer (HTAs).*

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SHGINA.DLL (Shell.LocalMachine)
VBScript Code:
Set objPC = CreateObject( "Shell.LocalMachine" ) strComputerName = objPC.MachineName WScript.Echo "Computer Name: " & strComputerName
Requirements:
Windows version:	XP (not sure about other Windows versions)
Network:	Stand-alone, workgroup, NT domain, or AD
Client software:	N/A
Script Engine:	any
Summarized:	Works in Windows XP, may or may not work in Windows NT 4, 2000, Server 2003 and Vista. Doesn't work in Windows 95, 98 or ME.

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ADSI (WinNTSystemInfo)
VBScript Code:
Set objSysInfo = CreateObject( "WinNTSystemInfo" ) strComputerName = objSysInfo.ComputerName WScript.Echo "Computer Name: " & strComputerName
Requirements:
Windows version:	2000, XP, Server 2003, or Vista (95, 98, ME, NT 4 with Active Directory client extension)
Network:	Stand-alone, workgroup, NT domain, or AD
Client software:	Active Directory client extension for Windows 95, 98, ME or NT 4
Script Engine:	any
Summarized:	Can work in any Windows version, but Active Directory client extension is required for Windows 95, 98, ME or NT 4. Can be used in *.vbs with CSCRIPT.EXE or WSCRIPT.EXE, as well as in HTAs.

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ADSI (ADSystemInfo)
VBScript Code:
Set objSysInfo = CreateObject( "ADSystemInfo" ) strComputerName = objSysInfo.ComputerName WScript.Echo "Computer Name: " & strComputerName
Requirements:
Windows version:	2000, XP, Server 2003, or Vista (95, 98, ME, NT 4 with Active Directory client extension)
Network:	Only AD domain members
Client software:	Active Directory client extension for Windows 95, 98, ME or NT 4
Script Engine:	any
Summarized:	For AD domain members only. Can work in any Windows version, but Active Directory client extension is required for Windows 95, 98, ME or NT 4 SP4. Can be used in .vbs with CSCRIPT.EXE or WSCRIPT.EXE, as well as in HTAs. Doesn't work on stand-alones, workgroup members or members of NT domains.*

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WMI (Win32_ComputerSystem)
VBScript Code:
Set objWMIService = GetObject( "winmgmts:\\.\root\cimv2" ) Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery( "Select * from Win32_ComputerSystem" ) For Each objItem in colItems strComputerName = objItem.Name WScript.Echo "Computer Name: " & strComputerName Next
Requirements:
Windows version:	ME, 2000, XP, Server 2003, or Vista (95, 98, NT 4 with WMI CORE 1.5)
Network:	Stand-alone, workgroup, NT domain, or AD
Client software:	WMI CORE 1.5 for Windows 95, 98 or NT 4
Script Engine:	any
Summarized:	Can work on any Windows computer, but WMI CORE 1.5 is required for Windows 95, 98 or NT 4. Can be used in *.vbs with CSCRIPT.EXE or WSCRIPT.EXE, as well as in HTAs.

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System Scripting Runtime
VBScript Code:
Set objLM = CreateObject( "SScripting.LMNetwork" ) strComputerName = objLM.ComputerName WScript.Echo "Computer Name: " & ComputerName
Requirements:
Windows version:	any
Network:	NETBIOS
Client software:	System Scripting Runtime
Script Engine:	any
Summarized:	Works in any Windows version with System Scripting Runtime is installed, with any script engine, except maybe Novell networks.

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Retrieving the Computer Name