Changing computer name?

[mikehende]

Is it possible to change the name you gave to the pc while installing anytime after installation or do you have to reinstall windows to change the name?

[dbarrow]

Start/Settings/System
System Properties
Computer Name tab

[mikehende]

cool, thanks!

[dbarrow]

Don't forget... if the machine is on a network...
You may have to check any existing shortcuts to a network path to that machine after you rename it on the other network machines as \\Machine1\Drive\Folder won't see \\Machinenew\drive\folder.

Did that one when changing over the file storage machine where existing shortcuts were pointing to \\XXX\ and the correct name should have been \\XXX1\. I had inadvertently added the 1 to the name and went nuts trying to figure out what the networking problem was.

[mikehende]

ok, noted, thanks!

[Dan18960]

Doug is referring to a peer to peer network - a domain is a COMPLETELY different situation.

Not only will the computer not be seen on the network, but it will not authenticate to the domain.

When setting up a computer the first time on a domain, a CID is created. The CID contains the MAC and computer name at the time of creation. If the computer name is changed it will not authenticate because the CID state doesn't match the MAC for the new name.

SOOOOOooooo, the important thing to do is layout your network from the beginning with associated computer names - and NEVER use a "users" name to associate the machine.