Problem - Unknown Computer

[Sir_George]

To All,

Here's the situation;

I have a very small network, only two computers connected via a D-Link
router. Because security is not an issue they are setup to use "Simple File
Sharing." Both systems have Windows XP Professional retail version OS. Both
computers are in a workgroup and all shared folders have the "Allow network
users to change my files" setting enabled. There is no domain.

Yesterday, after making a change to one of the files in a network folder,
the computer which had been named "Rob" was mysteriously changed to
"Unknown." An attempt to rename it only produced a new listing in the
network without removing any prior names.

I have checked all the settings and they have not been changed or modified.
System Restore did not correct the problem. I noticed that "Unknown" has
standard folder icons when viewed in the Network, but still has its old name
"Rob" and the appropriate network icons when viewed in the workgroup.
Everything still functions normally, but I would like to have the "Unknown"
name replaced with the original name.

A Google search regarding the subject line produced the following post from
"yellowpike" dated Jan 7, 2004;

(begin)
As for the "Unknown"

I (and many others) have the same thing but I've never found an explanation.
Even Steve Winograd (A real guru who posts here and writes for
PracticallyNetworked) has the same thing and is unable to explain.
Hope this helps and Happy New Year
yellowpike
(end)

I'm hoping that since Jan 7, 2004 someone has found a solution.

 

[Will]

Greetings.

Have your tried looking into the router settings?

Will

 

[Ken Wickes [MSFT]]

I have never heard of this.

Is the computer actually renamed (as per the computer name dialog box) or is
it just wrong in My Network Places. As far as My Network places goes, any
error like this should be corrected as time passes.

 

[Sir_George]

Ken Wickes,

Answered in line.

--
Sir_George

I have never heard of this.

Is the computer actually renamed (as per the computer name dialog box) or is
it just wrong in My Network Places.

The computer is not actually renamed as per the computer name diaglog box.
In my original post I mentioned changing it there, which resulted in adding
the new name to the list of computers. It is only wrong in Network places
and appears correctly when viewing Workgroup Computers or when viewing it on
the other compuer.

As far as My Network places goes, any error like this should be corrected

as time >passes.

Well not a lot of time has passed, but it's still the same.

Thanks for your reply.

--

Ken Wickes [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

To All,

Here's the situation;

I have a very small network, only two computers connected via a D-Link
router. Because security is not an issue they are setup to use "Simple File
Sharing." Both systems have Windows XP Professional retail version OS. Both
computers are in a workgroup and all shared folders have the "Allow network
users to change my files" setting enabled. There is no domain.

Yesterday, after making a change to one of the files in a network folder,
the computer which had been named "Rob" was mysteriously changed to
"Unknown." An attempt to rename it only produced a new listing in the
network without removing any prior names.

I have checked all the settings and they have not been changed or modified.
System Restore did not correct the problem. I noticed that "Unknown" has
standard folder icons when viewed in the Network, but still has its old name
"Rob" and the appropriate network icons when viewed in the workgroup.
Everything still functions normally, but I would like to have the "Unknown"
name replaced with the original name.

A Google search regarding the subject line produced the following post from
"yellowpike" dated Jan 7, 2004;

(begin)
As for the "Unknown"

I (and many others) have the same thing but I've never found an
explanation.
Even Steve Winograd (A real guru who posts here and writes for
PracticallyNetworked) has the same thing and is unable to explain.
Hope this helps and Happy New Year
yellowpike
(end)

I'm hoping that since Jan 7, 2004 someone has found a solution.

 

[Sir_George]

Will,

Answered in line.

--
Sir_George

Greetings.

Have your tried looking into the router settings?

No. However, it would serve no purpose because the computer is still
properly identified in Workgroups, Computer Name (caption box), and on the
other computer.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Ken Wickes [MSFT]]

Do the properties on the bad entry give any indication which network
provider created the entry? Dumb question, but I'm at work and My Network
Places works differently on a domain.

I would expect most MNP problems to be sorted out in an hour or so, so this
sounds more persistent.
--

Ken Wickes [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Ken Wickes,

Answered in line.

--
Sir_George

I have never heard of this.

Is the computer actually renamed (as per the computer name dialog box)

or

is
it just wrong in My Network Places.

The computer is not actually renamed as per the computer name diaglog box.
In my original post I mentioned changing it there, which resulted in adding
the new name to the list of computers. It is only wrong in Network places
and appears correctly when viewing Workgroup Computers or when viewing it on
the other compuer.

As far as My Network places goes, any error like this should be corrected

as time >passes.

Well not a lot of time has passed, but it's still the same.

Thanks for your reply.

--

Ken Wickes [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

To All,

Here's the situation;

I have a very small network, only two computers connected via a D-Link
router. Because security is not an issue they are setup to use "Simple File
Sharing." Both systems have Windows XP Professional retail version OS. Both
computers are in a workgroup and all shared folders have the "Allow network
users to change my files" setting enabled. There is no domain.

Yesterday, after making a change to one of the files in a network folder,
the computer which had been named "Rob" was mysteriously changed to
"Unknown." An attempt to rename it only produced a new listing in the
network without removing any prior names.

I have checked all the settings and they have not been changed or modified.
System Restore did not correct the problem. I noticed that "Unknown" has
standard folder icons when viewed in the Network, but still has its

old
name

"Rob" and the appropriate network icons when viewed in the workgroup.
Everything still functions normally, but I would like to have the "Unknown"
name replaced with the original name.

A Google search regarding the subject line produced the following post from
"yellowpike" dated Jan 7, 2004;

(begin)
As for the "Unknown"

I (and many others) have the same thing but I've never found an
explanation.
Even Steve Winograd (A real guru who posts here and writes for
PracticallyNetworked) has the same thing and is unable to explain.
Hope this helps and Happy New Year
yellowpike
(end)

I'm hoping that since Jan 7, 2004 someone has found a solution.

 

[Will]

Just out of curiosity, goto a command prompt(start-->run
and type cmd) and type hostname and press enter. What
name does it return?

Will

 

[Sir_George]

Will,

Answered in line.

--
Sir_George

Just out of curiosity, goto a command prompt(start-->run
and type cmd) and type hostname and press enter. What
name does it return?

Rob, which is the correct name for this computer.

 

[Will]

Out of curiosity, when you right click on My Computer and click on the
Computer Name tab, what does it say under "full compuer name" and what does
it say the computer name is when you click on the Change computer name?

Will

 

[Sir_George]

Will,

See answers in line.

--
Sir_George

Out of curiosity, when you right click on My Computer and click on the
Computer Name tab, what does it say under "full compuer name"

Rob (the correct computer name)

and what does
it say the computer name is when you click on the Change computer name?

Rob (again, the correct computer name)

 

[Will]

Are the Computer Browser and Workstation services enabled and started?
Also, on both of your pcs, when you look in network neighborhood, does
"unknown" show up on both pcs or just one?

Will