You can't alter the existing columns for identity. You have 2 options, 1.

Create a new table with identity & drop the existing table 2. Create a new column with identity & drop the existing column Approach 1. (New table) Here you can retain the existing data values on the newly created identity column.
CREATE TABLE dbo.Tmp_Names ( Id int NOT NULL IDENTITY(1, 1), Name varchar(50) NULL ) ON [PRIMARY] go SET IDENTITY_INSERT dbo.Tmp_Names ON go IF EXISTS ( SELECT * FROM dbo.Names ) INSERT INTO dbo.Tmp_Names ( Id, Name ) SELECT Id, Name FROM dbo.Names TABLOCKX go SET IDENTITY_INSERT dbo.Tmp_Names OFF go DROP TABLE dbo.Names go Exec sp_rename 'Tmp_Names', 'Names'

Approach 2 (New column) You cant retain the existing data values on the newly created identity column, The identity column will hold the sequence of number.
Alter Table Names Add Id_new Int Identity(1, 1) Go Alter Table Names Drop Column ID Go Exec sp_rename 'Names.Id_new', 'ID', 'Column'

See the following Microsoft SQL Server Forum post for more details: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/transactsql/thread/04d69ee6-d4f5-4f8f-a115d89f7bcbc032