Where do we REALLY list & change WinXP computer names?

[Susan Sifton]

How do I really and truly find & change a WinXP system's "name"?

I don't know much about computers so I hope I can explain the
problem.For a year, upon reboot, I have been getting the classic
Windows XP error message "Windows System Error - A duplicate name
exists on the network".

The "My Computer" "Properties" "Computer Name" "Full Computer Name" is
definately DIFFERENT between the only two systems on my simple home
network. Besides, I've CHANGED the name of each PC a half-dozen times
using this GUI (by pressing the subsequent "Change" "Computer Name"
button) yet, I STILL get this duplicate name exists Windows System
Error message upon every reboot.

When I type "ipconfig /all" at the Windows command prompt, each of my
two PCs gives a different "Host Name". Same with "nbstat -n".

Apparently the computer "name" I think I'm viewing & changing isn't the
computer "name" Windows XP SP2 must be looking at.

The sad thing is my home "network" is the classic simple two-computer
home network everyone else has, i.e. dsl comes in to a dsl modem, then
cat5 cable goes to a d-link wireless router which has one ethernet
cabled Dell desktop and one wireless Sony laptop connected using WEP.
The WinXP laptop sometimes is hooked up wired and sometimes wireless.I
doubt it's my neighbor's computer Windows XP is complaining about as
there are no wireless domains in the vicinity.

I swear both computers on this simple network have DIFFERENT names (as
far as I can tell). I'd be glad to change the "real" name if only I
could figure out what it is.

How do I truly get/change the "real" name in Windows XP?

Susan

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

How do I really and truly find & change a WinXP system's "name"?

I don't know much about computers so I hope I can explain the
problem.For a year, upon reboot, I have been getting the classic
Windows XP error message "Windows System Error - A duplicate name
exists on the network".

The "My Computer" "Properties" "Computer Name" "Full Computer Name" is
definately DIFFERENT between the only two systems on my simple home
network. Besides, I've CHANGED the name of each PC a half-dozen times
using this GUI (by pressing the subsequent "Change" "Computer Name"
button) yet, I STILL get this duplicate name exists Windows System
Error message upon every reboot.

When I type "ipconfig /all" at the Windows command prompt, each of my
two PCs gives a different "Host Name". Same with "nbstat -n".

Apparently the computer "name" I think I'm viewing & changing isn't the
computer "name" Windows XP SP2 must be looking at.

The sad thing is my home "network" is the classic simple two-computer
home network everyone else has, i.e. dsl comes in to a dsl modem, then
cat5 cable goes to a d-link wireless router which has one ethernet
cabled Dell desktop and one wireless Sony laptop connected using WEP.
The WinXP laptop sometimes is hooked up wired and sometimes wireless.I
doubt it's my neighbor's computer Windows XP is complaining about as
there are no wireless domains in the vicinity.

I swear both computers on this simple network have DIFFERENT names (as
far as I can tell). I'd be glad to change the "real" name if only I
could figure out what it is.

How do I truly get/change the "real" name in Windows XP?

Susan

You probably have a PC that has the same workgroup name
as the NetBIOS name of your problem PC. Check all your
workgroup names!

 

[CWatters]

I read somewhere that it's not a good idea to put spaces in computer or
workgroup names. Might be worth checking if that's the case.

 

[Susan Sifton]

I read somewhere that it's not a good idea to put spaces in computer or
workgroup names. Might be worth checking if that's the case.

Thanks to your help I found the problem using nbtstat & netstat.

It wasn't the computer names at all that were conflicting.
It apparently was a network names conflicting with a computer name.

Apparently the misleading message was telling me I had a network
name conflicting with a computer name.
Computer1 ==> name = kitchen network = office
Computer2 ==> name = office network = office

When I made up an arbitrary network name, the error disappeared:
Computer1 ==> name = kitchen network = office
Computer2 ==> name = office1 network = office