1 Edit existing computers
Edit Computer lets you change the machine variables and assigned software groups of computers that already exist in ConfigMgr.
Changes take effect at the next installation
Changes made to a computer only take effect when a new operating system is installed on it. To reinstall a computer with a new template and software, Reinstall Single Computer is often simpler.
See Edit Computer for the interface.
2 What you can edit
Open Devices › Edit Computer and pick a computer. The interface works on one computer at a time.
| You can | Notes |
|---|---|
| Change the machine variables | Keyboard, locales, time zone, organisational unit and any other variable your administrator has made available. A template can fill them in for you. |
| Change the software groups | Only the software groups your security role may use are listed. |
| Change the MAC address and SMBIOS GUID | Replaces the identifiers ConfigMgr holds for the computer. The computer name is shown but cannot be changed. |
| Apply a new operating system | Reinstalls the computer. Shown only to security roles that have the function. |
Every save is recorded as a deployment job (Edit computer followed by the computer name, or Reinstallation of the computer with the operating system), so you can find it again in the Deployment Manager.
3 Best practice
- Change the variables, reinstall only when you must. Saving without choosing an operating system leaves the computer running; choosing one reinstalls it and the user data is lost.
- Check the computer before you save. The online marker next to the name shows whether the computer is online, and the name cannot be edited, so you know which computer you are changing.
- Use a template. A template fills in the variables consistently, and variables locked in the template cannot be changed by mistake.
- Copy the MAC address and SMBIOS GUID rather than typing them. A wrong value replaces the one ConfigMgr uses to recognise the computer.