Resetting a Computer Account

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

This topic explains how to use the Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell to reset a computer account. To reset a computer account, you must reset the secure channel between the domain-joined computer and a domain controller in the domain. A secure channel is necessary for a computer to authenticate successfully to the domain.

Example 1

The following example demonstrates how to reset the secure channel between the local computer and the domain to which it is joined. You must run this command on the local computer:

Test-ComputerSecureChannel –Repair

Example 2

The following example demonstrates how to reset the secure channel between the local computer and the domain to which it is joined. The domain controller that performs the operation is specified as FabrkikamDC1.Fabrikam.COM. You must run this command on the local computer:

Test-ComputerSecureChannel -Repair -Server FabrkikamDC1.Fabrikam.COM

Additional information

For a full explanation of the parameters that you can pass to Test-ComputerSecureChannel, at the Active Directory module command prompt, type Get-Help Test-ComputerSecureChannel –detailed, and then press ENTER.