Microsoft KB Archive/266633

= &quot;Computer is already in use&quot; error message when you add user names in Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 =

Article ID: 266633

Article Last Modified on 2/28/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition

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This article was previously published under Q266633



SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to add users or computers, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following error message:

Windows cannot create the new computer object because the pre-Windows 2000 computer name  is already in use. Select another name, and then try again.

You may also receive the following error message when you try to setup a trust relationship in Microsoft Windows Server 2003:

Cannot Continue. The trust relationship cannot be created because the following error occurred: The operation failed. The specified user already exists.



CAUSE
This issue can occur because several user, computer, and trust relationship names that are used in earlier versions of Windows are restricted in the versions of Windows that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section of this article.



Restricted User Names

 * Null SID
 * Everyone
 * Local
 * Creator owner
 * Creator group
 * NT pseudo domain
 * NT authority
 * Dialup
 * Network
 * Batch
 * Interactive
 * Service
 * Builtin
 * System
 * Anonymous Logon
 * Creator owner server
 * Creator group server
 * Enterprise domain controllers
 * Self
 * Authenticated Users
 * Restricted
 * Terminal server user
 * Proxy

Restricted Computer or Trust Relationship Names

 * Internet$

Computer names and trust relationships are special cases. The versions of Windows that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section of this article automatically append a dollar sign ($) to the end of these accounts. Therefore, you cannot create a computer account or trust relationship that has the name &quot;Internet.&quot; If you need to set up a trust relationship, do not use &quot;Internet&quot; as a domain name.

Additional query words: trusts trusted trusting prohibited allowed Restricted Reserved names object

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB266633

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