SIDCHG SID Change Utility

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SID changer utility

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SIDCHG - SID changer utility

Overview

SIDCHG (SIDCHG64 on 64-bit Windows) 3.0f is a command-line utility to modify local computer SID and computer name, for Windows 2019/2016/10/8.1/2012 R2/8/2012/7/2008 R2. It replaces current computer SID with new random SID. In addition, it changes the WSUS ID for Windows Updates, the MachineGuid, the Machine ID, the Device Identifier for modern Windows apps, the MSDTC CID, the Dhcpv6 DUID, the SQL Server Master database, the encryption state to preserve encrypted files, Windows Action Center settings, Certificates and other encrypted stored information. Preservation of credentials stored in Windows Vault is possible with prior preparation of Vault backup. Optionally OneDrive can be reset.

Usage

SIDCHG64 [options]
  /COMPNAME: New computername, ? = random hex character, * = mac address (hex)
  /F: Omit confirmation
  /R: Reboot after SID change
  /S: Shutdown after SID change
  /WS: Seconds to wait before shutdown/reboot
  /FS: Force Shutdown/Reboot without closing applications
  /NS: Don't change SID, only set computername
  /KEY: License key
  /SK: Store licence key in registry for later. SID will not be changed if /SK is specified
  /RMK: Remove license key from registry after SID change
  /OD: Reset OneDrive. This avoids OneDrive synchronization issues if both original and clone are active with same user.
Following options are advanced (not for normal use):
  /CNMF: Map file /COMPNAME will be mapped against, with lines map=compname
  /OS: Windows-directory (e.g C:\Windows) of OS to modify, if not running OS
  /D: Drives to check for SID (e.g /D:CDE). Per default, SID will be changed on all local harddrives
  /SID: New SID value. Per default, SID will be set to random value
  /NW: Don't change WSUS ID
  /NCID: Don't reset MSDTC CID
  /NPP: No Run Once-post processing. Transparent post processing is needed to preserve encrypted files and other user settings.
  /NDI: Don't reset Device ID.
  /NMG: Don't reset Machine GUID.
  /NMID: Don't reset Machine ID
  /NDUID: Don't reset Dhcpv6 DUID.
  /NSQ: Don't change SQL Server master database. When changed, a backup copy of the original master database is copied to C:\Windows\Temp-directory
  /NMA: Don't reset McAfee ID.
  /FDID: Full reset of Device ID (can invalidate System Activation)
  /REVERT: Reverts SID back to previous value after complete or interrupted SID change
  /CLEARMSG: Clears SID change message at login after interrupted SID change
  /FF: Allow SID to be changed on removable drive, or for unsupported Windows version

Best usages:
SIDCHG
SIDCHG /COMPNAME:compname
SIDCHG /COMPNAME:compname /F /R /OD

Set computername after mac address:
SIDCHG /COMPNAME=* /CNMF=map.txt where map.txt has lines macaddress=compname

Change of computer SID risks data loss and system damage. Do not interrupt SID change in process!

On Windows 8, 8.1 and 10, user will be logged out and SID will be changed in background, after which the computer will shut down (default) rsp. reboot (if /R is specified), to preserve modern interface user settings.
Do not log in and do not turn off or shutdown the computer while SID change is running in background!

While SID change is running in background, following message appears at Login screen, showing actual progress state of SID change in process:

It is very important to not log into the computer and not shutdown the computer while SID change is running in background ! This is necessary to preserve the Windows 10 user interfaces and apps.

After completing the SID change, the system will automatically shut down or reboot. Do not do that yourself, do not log in, and do not interfere. Best is to not touch the PC at all before the automatic shutdown/reboot !

Pricing

SIDCHG is free to try for evaluation for 30 days maximum, but not free to use.

SIDCHG/SIDCHG64 license agreement

SIDCHG/SIDCHG64
Copyright 2012-2021 Stratesave Systems
All Rights Reserved.
 
This Stratesave Systems End-User License
Agreement ("EULA") is a legal agreement between
you (either an individual or a single entity) and
Stratesave Systems for using SIGCHG or SIGCHG64
(the "SOFTWARE PRODUCT" or "SOFTWARE"). 
By installing, copying, or otherwise using the
SOFTWARE, you agree to be bound by the terms
of this EULA.
 
SOFTWARE PRODUCT LICENSE
 
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by
copyright laws and international copyright treaties,
as well as other intellectual property laws and
treaties. 
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold.
 
You are hereby licensed to:
use the SOFTWARE for a 30 days evaluation 
period for evaluation purposes, without purchasing
a license.
 
You are specifically prohibited from using the
SOFTWARE without or with improper registration
for other than evaluation purposes and from
disassembling or reverse engineering the SOFTWARE.

One registered license is required
per person installing, using, programming, 
or scripting with the SOFTWARE.

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution
of this software, or any portion of it, may result in 
severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be
prosecuted to the maximum extent possible 
under law.
 
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
 
THIS SOFTWARE AND THE ACCOMPANYING FILES 
ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT 
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.

STRATESAVE SYSTEMS AND THE AUTHOR
DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESSED
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NEITHER
THE AUTHOR NOR STRATESAVE SYSTEMS 
SHALL BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY KIND OF DAMAGES 
OR  CLAIMS THAT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY 
RESULT FROM USING THIS SOFTWARE.

Download Software

Visit Download page.

Trial key

Monthly trial keys for evaluation purposes are available. Trial key valid May 2021:

New trial key will be uploaded during 5th-10th day of month.

Purchase license

Upon registration, you will be sent license key for SIDCHG 3.0. License key can be stored in registry, for easy management. Visit Purchase page.

Note if SID change takes long time

Before acting, please let it run for at least 15 minutes. Then check if progress message with progress number shown in image above changes. Press OK button in progress message screen and then click on login screen to have progress message display show up again with new progress. If progress message and progress number BOTH stay unchanged for 5 minutes, it can be assumed that the program is no longer running and terminated abnormally. If only progress message stays unchanged but progress number changes, the SID change is still actively being worked on.

Note if SID change has been interrupted and SID change message remains at login screen

If running SIDCHG has been interrupted, use SIDCHG /CLEARMSG to remove SID change message at login.

SIDCHG /REVERT allows to undo SID change. Undo of an interrupted SID change is best done from a local Account with Administrator rights, which is created in advance (before performing the initial SID change), and which is used explicitely for that purpose (an account where it doesn't hurt if it gets damaged). After an interrupted SID change which is going to be reverted, do not log in with a user account which is actively in use, before the revert is complete. Do not interrupt revert operation, at least not before letting it run at least same amount of time as original SID change.

Please be careful to not interrupt SIDCHG while it is doing SID change, before waiting lengthy time and being sure it is not working correctly.

Please also check for a file with name SIDCHGxxx.dmp (xxx any characters) in folder C:\Windows\Temp. If such a file exists after unsuccessful SID change, please send the file to support@stratesave.com , Thank you. This allows for analyzing the problem and working on a fix.

Note if SID change has been interrupted and modern Apps are not starting correctly

Use following command, run from Administrator Powershell, to repair your system (ignore error messages):
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Note about Windows Licensing, KMS et al

SIDCHG does not affect Windows licensing. Use slmgr -rearm to reset licensing information of imaged clones, in addition to calling SIDCHG(64).

Note about SID change from Windows PE

SIDCHG supports SID change from Windows PE, with SIDCHG commandline option /OS:C:\Windows, pointing at the System to be changed. The Windows version of the PE should be the same or greater than the system to be changed. To change the SID of a Windows 10 System from PE, for best results use Windows 10 PE.

Note about SID change of domain computers

After the SID change computers on a domain possibly loose domain membership and need to rejoin. In addition, SID of a domain controller server cannot be changed. To change the SID of a domain controller, it needs to be demoted first, and promoted again after SID change.

Note about EFS encrypted files

SIDCHG supports preservation of encrypted information, including NTFS encrypted files. Please note that EFS encrypted files cannot always be preserved. If it is necessary to preserve encrypted files, best to save the EFS certificate in advance, for example with rekeywiz-command.

Note about preservation of credentials stored in Windows Vault

To preserve stored credentials after SID change, create a backup of the Vault before the SID change using Credential Manager's backup functionality. The backup needs to be stored in user's TEMP-directory with the name SIDCHG.crd. The password of the vault is SIDCHG. User's TEMP-directory can be determined with command echo %TEMP% from command prompt. Often it is C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp. After the SID change and recovery of the Vault credentials, the SIDCHG.crd file will be deleted. To prevent the deletion, assign READ-only attribute to the file. For increased security, the file can optionally be stored NTFS-encrypted.

Note about SID change with BitLocker

SIDCHG must not be run with BitLocker Volume encryption enabled. This leads to complete data loss. BitLocker needs to be turned off and drives being decrypted. If desired, BitLocker can be reenabled after the SID change.

Note about storing key with /SK and /RMK options

The /SK option stores the Registration Key in Windows registry without doing the SID change while the /RMK option removes the Key from registry while also doing the SID change. The usual usage is to store the key in the base image with SIDCHG /SK. On the clones the SID can then be changed without specifying the key. If you prefer the key to be removed after the SID change, use /RMK option when changing the SID.

How to be alerted about updates of SIDCHG

To be informed when an update of SIDCHG becomes available, use service webalert.email. After registering and signin in, Add a New Web Alert for Url https://www.stratesave.com with keyword SIDCHG, or possibly with key word New! which will inform you about any new or updated Stratesave Software.