How to View and Change the "Computer Name" in Windows 7 and Windows 8
Information
Computers on a network must have a unique computer name so they can identify and communicate with each other. This will show you how to view and change your computer name in Windows 7 and Windows 8.
You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to change your computer name.
Note
It is recommend that you use only Internet-standard characters in the computer name. The standard characters are the numbers 0 through 9, uppercase and lowercase letters from A through Z, and the hyphen (-) character. Computer names cannot consist entirely of numbers, nor can they contain spaces. The name also cannot contain special characters, such as the following:
Some Internet service providers (ISPs) require you to use a specific computer name so they can identify your computer and validate your account. If your ISP requires a specific computer name, then do not change the name they give you.
If you are part of a domain, then you will have to remove the computer from the domain (change to workgroup) first, delete any machine accounts that are incorrect from the domain, rename your computer, and rejoin the domain.
EXAMPLE: Computer Name NOTE:This is in the System window from the Control Panel.
Here's How:
1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like to open the System window.
2. In Windows 7, open the Start menu, right click on the Computer button, click on Properties, and go to step 5 below.
3. In Windows 8, open the (Win+X) Power Users Tasks Menu, click/tap on System, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
7. Click/tap on the Computer Name tab, then click/tap on the Change button. (see screenshot below)
8. Under Computer name, type in the computer name that you want for your computer to be identified as on the network, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below) NOTE: See the blue note box at the top of the tutorial.
9. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below) NOTE:This does not restart the computer yet.
10. Click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below) NOTE:Notice the new computer name.
11. Click/tap on Restart Now. (see screenshot below) WARNING:This will restart the computer immediately. Be sure that you save and close anything you have open first.
12. After the restart, verify the new computer name.
I have two (separate) issues when changing the computer name on two (separate) systems I'm working on.
On a desktop (Windows 7 x64), when I change the computer name it hangs considerably at boot (hangs at the spinning circle at the "Welcome" screen that at least doubles the boot time). It doesn't seem to iron itself out after several reboots (like if it were a router connection issue and needed a new address assigned). Nothing significant in the event log. If I change back to the original computer name, everything is fine again.
Then, on a laptop (Windows 7 x86), when I change the computer name the boot is fine, but it hangs at shutdown "Logging Off." It hangs there permanently requiring a power-off. Changing back to the original computer name returns things to normal for this one also.
System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell: XPS 420, XPS 420, XPS M1330, XPS M1330, Mini 9, Mini 10v OS Windows 7 RTM (TechNet), XP Pro x64, Vista x64, Ubuntu CPU Q6600, Q6700, T7500, T7500, N270, N270 Motherboard Dell Memory 4GB, 8GB, 4GB, 4GB, 2GB, 2GB Graphics Card ATI, nVidia, nVidia, nVidia, Intel, Intel Monitor(s) Displays Dell 2408WFP
Keyboard Logitech Wave Hard Drives A drawer full. OCZ Vertex 2x30GB in RAID 0 on my main desktop.....fast, fast, fast! Internet Speed 29 Mbps DL / .95 Mbps UL Other Info New project(9/09)...Built a low power (38-40 watts using Kill-a-Watt) Windows Home Server machine. Zotac ION (Atom 330, GeForce9400), 2GB RAM, 2x1TB Seagate 7200.12, IN WIM miniITX Case. Fits on a shelf in laundry closet, practically silent.
Not sure why, but depending on how you have your network setup, you might check to see if you may need to reassign a IP address for your desktop computer connection. The router may still be seeing it with the old computer name.
Not sure why, but depending on how you have your network setup, you might check to see if you may need to reassign a IP address for your desktop computer connection. The router may still be seeing it with the old computer name.
Hope this helps some,
Shawn
That's a good point, Shawn. At the time I might have set a DHCP reservation on the router for the Desktop and that might have caused some confusion. I'll work more in that area if I try changing the computer name again (I've just left it as it is for now).
As for the laptop, that's currently more important and has me frustrated. I won't complete logging off even with all network adapters disabled, so I think it's having issues logging off the user account rather than the network.
Tom
System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell: XPS 420, XPS 420, XPS M1330, XPS M1330, Mini 9, Mini 10v OS Windows 7 RTM (TechNet), XP Pro x64, Vista x64, Ubuntu CPU Q6600, Q6700, T7500, T7500, N270, N270 Motherboard Dell Memory 4GB, 8GB, 4GB, 4GB, 2GB, 2GB Graphics Card ATI, nVidia, nVidia, nVidia, Intel, Intel Monitor(s) Displays Dell 2408WFP
Keyboard Logitech Wave Hard Drives A drawer full. OCZ Vertex 2x30GB in RAID 0 on my main desktop.....fast, fast, fast! Internet Speed 29 Mbps DL / .95 Mbps UL Other Info New project(9/09)...Built a low power (38-40 watts using Kill-a-Watt) Windows Home Server machine. Zotac ION (Atom 330, GeForce9400), 2GB RAM, 2x1TB Seagate 7200.12, IN WIM miniITX Case. Fits on a shelf in laundry closet, practically silent.
System Manufacturer/Model Number Acer Aspire One 722 (AO722) OS Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 32-bit Build 7601 CPU AMD C-50 Processor 1.0 Ghz Memory 2 GB DDR3 RAM (1.73 usable in System Properties) Graphics Card AMD Radeon HD 6200 series Graphics Sound Card High Definition Audio Device Monitor(s) Displays Generic PnP Monitor Screen Resolution 1366 x 768 (recommended)
Keyboard Built-in on my laptop Mouse External mouse Hard Drives 320 GB HDD storage
298.09 GB in Disk Management (REAL) Other Info Installed Windows 7 Service Pack 1 by 9/9/2012
Information
Note
Warning
Quote: Originally Posted by Brink 
Outlook 2010 cannot change my mail view back to normal from list view 
