When you use the netdom renamecomputer command to rename a computer that is running Windows Vista, you receive the following error result:

This operation will rename the computer [OriginalComputerName] to [NewComputerName].

Certain services, such as the Certificate Authority, rely on a fixed machine
name. If any services of this type are running on [OriginalComputerName],
then a computer name change would have an adverse impact.

Access is denied.

The command failed to complete successfully.

You experience this problem when you try to rename the computer from a remote computer. If you run the command on the computer that you want to rename, the command works.

Note: You experience a similar problem if you try to use the NetRenameMachineInDomain function to rename a remote Windows Vista-based computer.