I use wsname.exe to rename the computer using a reverse DNS lookup: wsname /N:$DNS /REBOOT Then, join the domain as the final step from "%windir%\Setup\SetupComplete.cmd" instead of from within the unattend.xml: netdom join %COMPUTERNAME% /domain:mydomain.edu /UserD:admin /PasswordD:xxxxxx (make sure that netdom.exe, netapi32.dll are in the %windir%\Setup folder or in the PATH). Works like a charm! YMMV