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Remove-Computer

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Removes the local computer from its domain.

Syntax

Remove-Computer
      [[-UnjoinDomainCredential] <PSCredential>]
      [-Restart]
      [-Force]
      [-PassThru]
      [-WorkgroupName <String>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Remove-Computer
      -UnjoinDomainCredential <PSCredential>
      [-LocalCredential <PSCredential>]
      [-Restart]
      [-ComputerName <String[]>]
      [-Force]
      [-PassThru]
      [-WorkgroupName <String>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Remove-Computer cmdlet removes the local computer and remote computers from their current domains.

When you remove a computer from a domain, Remove-Computer also disables the domain account of the computer. You must provide explicit credentials to unjoin the computer from its domain, even when they are the credentials of the current user. You must restart the computer to make the change effective. Also, when you remove a computer from a domain, you must move it to a workgroup. Use the WorkgroupName parameter to specify the workgroup.

To move a computer from a workgroup to a domain, from one workgroup to another, or from one domain to another, use the Add-Computer cmdlet.

To get the results of the command, use the Verbose and PassThru parameters. To suppress the user prompt, use the Force parameter.

Remove-Computer removes the local computer and remote computers from domains. It includes credential parameters that specify alternate credentials for connecting to remote computers, and unjoining from a domain, a Restart parameter for restarting the affected computers, and a WorkgroupName parameter for specifying the name of the workgroup to which computers are added.

Examples

Example 1: Remove the local computer from its domain

This example removes the local computer from the domain to which it is joined.

Remove-Computer -UnjoinDomaincredential Domain01\Admin01 -PassThru -Verbose -Restart

The UnjoinDomainCredential parameter provides the credentials of a domain administrator. The PassThru and the Verbose common parameters display information about the success or failure of the command. The Restart parameter restarts the computer to complete the remove operation.

When no workgroup name is specified, the computer is moved to the workgroup named after it is removed from its domain.

Example 2: Move several computers to a legacy workgroup

This example removes all the computers listed in the OldServers.txt file from their domains and moves them into the Legacy workgroup.

Remove-Computer -ComputerName (Get-Content OldServers.txt) -LocalCredential Domain01\Admin01 -UnJoinDomainCredential Domain01\Admin01 -WorkgroupName "Legacy" -Force -Restart

The LocalCredential parameter provides the credentials of a user who has permission to connect to remote computers. The UnjoinDomainCredential parameter provides the credentials of a user who has permission to remove the computers from their domains. The Force parameter suppresses the confirmation prompts for each computer. The Restart parameter restarts each of the computers after it is removed from its domain.

Example 3: Remove computers from a workgroup without confirmation

This example removes the remote computer, Server01, and the local computer from their domains and adds them to the Local workgroup.

Remove-Computer -ComputerName "Server01", "localhost" -UnjoinDomainCredential Domain01\Admin01 -WorkgroupName "Local" -Restart -Force

The Force parameter suppresses the confirmation prompt for each computer. The Restart parameter restarts the computers to make the change effective.

Parameters

-ComputerName

Specifies the computers to be removed from their domains. The default is the local computer.

Type the NetBIOS name, an IP address, or a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the remote computers. To specify the local computer, type the computer name, a dot (.), or localhost.

This parameter does not rely on PowerShell remoting. You can use the ComputerName parameter of Remove-Computer even if your computer is not configured to run remote commands.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Force

Suppresses the user prompt. By default, Remove-Computer prompts you for confirmation before removing each computer.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-LocalCredential

Specifies a user account that has permission to connect to the computers that the ComputerName parameter specifies. The default is the current user.

Type a user name, such as User01 or Domain01\User01, or enter a PSCredential object, such as one generated by the Get-Credential cmdlet. If you type a user name, the cmdlet prompts you for a password. To specify a user account that has permission to remove the computer from its current domain, use the UnjoinDomainCredential parameter.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:PSCredential
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-PassThru

Returns the results of the command. Otherwise, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Restart

Indicates that this cmdlet restarts the computers that are being removed. A restart is often required to make the change effective.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-UnjoinDomainCredential

Specifies a user account that has permission to remove the computers from their current domains. Explicit credentials, as provided by this parameter, are required to remove remote computers from a domain, even when the value is the credentials of the current user.

Type a user name, such as User01 or Domain01\User01, or enter a PSCredential object, such as one generated by Get-Credential. If you type a user name, this cmdlet prompts you for a password.

To specify a user account that has permission to connect to the remote computers, use the LocalCredential parameter.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:PSCredential
Aliases:Credential
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WorkgroupName

Specifies the name of a workgroup to which the computers are added when they are removed from their domains. The default value is WORKGROUP. When you remove a computer from a domain, you must add it to a workgroup.

This parameter was introduced in PowerShell 3.0.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

String

You can pipe computer names to thiscmdlet.

Outputs

ComputerChangeInfo

When you use the PassThru parameter, Remove-Computer returns a ComputerChangeInfo object. Otherwise, this cmdlet does not generate any output.

Notes

This cmdlet does not remove computers from workgroups.