Weird Networking Issue In XP

[Mark W.]

I have networked 3 PCs:

a win 98 se machine that is connected to the router thru Ethernet cable
a win 2000 laptop that is connected wireless
a win XP laptop that is connected wireless

All 3 machines see each other and share files. The win 98 machine is
connected to the printer and the other 2 machines can print.

The weird part:

The XP laptop (IBM T40p) is brand new. It is my first XP machine. In
network places it shows all of the shared folders on all 3 machines HOWEVER
under computer name in Network Places for ITSELF is has UNKNOWN. It shows
the shared folder on the machine but it does not shows the laptop's name as
it does for the 2000 or 98 machine.

Anyone know why this is? How can this be fixed? Is this normal??

TIA

Mark

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

I have networked 3 PCs:

a win 98 se machine that is connected to the router thru Ethernet cable
a win 2000 laptop that is connected wireless
a win XP laptop that is connected wireless

All 3 machines see each other and share files. The win 98 machine is
connected to the printer and the other 2 machines can print.

The weird part:

The XP laptop (IBM T40p) is brand new. It is my first XP machine. In
network places it shows all of the shared folders on all 3 machines HOWEVER
under computer name in Network Places for ITSELF is has UNKNOWN. It shows
the shared folder on the machine but it does not shows the laptop's name as
it does for the 2000 or 98 machine.

Anyone know why this is? How can this be fixed? Is this normal??

Mark,

XP shows the description in some places instead of the name.
Perhaps this is your problem already? Just enter a description
in addition to the name. It can be the same as the name.

Hans-Georg

 

[Mark W.]

What do I need to do? The computer has a name it just is not showing in My
Network Places. It does show on the other PCs.
Is this a problem ?/

 

[Mark W.]

I don't know how to do what you said to do
Can you be more specific??

Mark

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

I don't know how to do what you said to do
Can you be more specific??

Mark,

when you right-click on the My Computer icon (or click on the
Start button, then right-click on My Computer), then click on
Properties, you get a dialog box with tabs at the top.

One of the tabs is labelled Computer Name. Click on that.

Now you can enter a computer description in addition to the
computer name. That's the one that's shown in Windows XP
networking.

Hans-Georg