How to rename "Computer" to "Username on Computername"

[NCondulmari]

How to rename "Computer" to "Username on Computername"

This was a popular tweak for Windows XP and it worked also in windows Vista: it needed a very simple change in Windows registry:
System Key: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}]

Rename the value named "LocalizedString" to "LocalizedString.old". Create a new REG_EXPAND_SZ value named "LocalizedString", and set the value to "%USERNAME% on %COMPUTERNAME%".

Exit the registry editor, click on your desktop and press F5 (for refresh). The "My Computer" icon should now be rename to "Username on Computername".

It does not work in Windows 7 because the system does'nt allow renaming or modifying the key. I even tried to start windows in Safe Mode but I did not succeed.

Windows 7 Registry Content is as follows (different than Vista and XP)

System Key: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}]
(Default) Type: REG_SZ Value:Computer
InfoTip Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ Value%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-22913
LocalizedString Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ value%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9216

 

[H2SO4]

That's actually a relatively hazardous stunt to pull for mere cosmetic benefit.

 

[NCondulmari]

How to rename "Computer" to "Username on Computername"

Who said is for cosmetic reasons? If you have multiple users who alternate in the usage of a computer it's a very useful tweak. In our company we have used this tweak for years with windows XP and Vista.
I think that if you don't know the answer to a question, you should say so, instead of posting judgements.

 

[Hakon]

It does not work in Windows 7 because the system does'nt allow renaming or modifying the key.

are you running regedit as admin?
It works fine for me
Windows 7 build 7100.

 

[H2SO4]

Who said is for cosmetic reasons? If you have multiple users who alternate in the usage of a computer it's a very useful tweak. In our company we have used this tweak for years with windows XP and Vista.
I think that if you don't know the answer to a question, you should say so, instead of posting judgements.

It's a warning, not a judgement.

Some of those strings are expected to be a certain (localised) length, for use in other non-obvious places in the shell.

What benefit does this provide, out of curiosity?

 

[Hakon]

I also see this done in the university here, "%username% on %computername%"

 

[AvatarOfTheShip]

It's true - you can't fool with that value any more. I used to rename Computer to the name the PC had on the network, but I can live without it (just)

 

[NCondulmari]

How to rename "Computer" to "Username on Computername"

This tweak is very useful when you have working stations shared by different users. For example: salespersons who come to the office to post their work or check their mail. It happens even in this era of internet connectivity. The occasional user logs in to the workstation with username and password. The "username on computername" tweak allows to see if somebody is still logged in, or who logged in last.
You can rename or change the keys values if you have administrative priviledges and make yourself owner of the keys you want to modify. But the modifications have no effect in windows 7. The name of the desktop icon remains "Computer". Very frustrating

 

[NCondulmari]

Who said is for cosmetic reasons? If you have multiple users who alternate in the usage of a computer it's a very useful tweak. In our company we have used this tweak for years with windows XP and Vista.
I think that if you don't know the answer to a question, you should say so, instead of posting judgements.

It's a warning, not a judgement.

Some of those strings are expected to be a certain (localised) length, for use in other non-obvious places in the shell.

What benefit does this provide, out of curiosity?

See my last post. I have used this tweak on all the XP or Vista workstations in my company for years

 

[H2SO4]

Who said is for cosmetic reasons? If you have multiple users who alternate in the usage of a computer it's a very useful tweak. In our company we have used this tweak for years with windows XP and Vista.
I think that if you don't know the answer to a question, you should say so, instead of posting judgements.

It's a warning, not a judgement.

Some of those strings are expected to be a certain (localised) length, for use in other non-obvious places in the shell.

What benefit does this provide, out of curiosity?

See my last post. I have used this tweak on all the XP or Vista workstations in my company for years

I understand that. I'm now asking you why you feel tempted to do this, because that info may help me or somebody else who sees this thread to suggest a viable alternative.

 

[NCondulmari]

It does not work in Windows 7 because the system does'nt allow renaming or modifying the key.

are you running regedit as admin?
It works fine for me
Windows 7 build 7100.

See my last post

 

[tss1961]

Large Public School district... We have used the "ComputerName" icon naming for the past couple of years in WinXP. It is very handy for our help-desk personnel when a user calls with a problem. We just simply ask what the desktop "My computer" icon says rather than trying to talk them through the computer properties clicking. It speeds things up when you have a client who does not know the difference between "Right Click on your Desktop" and actually writing "Click" on their wooden desk top with a pencil.

We are now testing out Windows 7 for a possible future migration and I wanted the same Mycomputer Icon labeling. After several searches I found this forum. I was also successful in applying this setting but only after one member mention "Taking Ownership". Here is what I did;

- in regedit navigate to the HK CLASSES ROOT\CLSID\[20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} key
- rightclick on that key and select PERMISSIONS
- select ADVANCED then OWNER
- change owner to your currently logged in administrator login

You should now be able to edit that key. To be safe, after editing that key change the ownership back to what it was before you started.

Hope that helps.

 

[NCondulmari]

This tweak is very useful when you have working stations shared by different users. For example: salespersons who come to the office to post their work or check their mail. It happens even in this era of internet connectivity. The occasional user logs in to the workstation with username and password. The "username on computername" tweak allows to see if somebody is still logged in, or who logged in last.
You can rename or change the keys values if you have administrative priviledges and make yourself owner of the keys you want to modify. But the modifications have no effect in windows 7. The name of the desktop icon remains "Computer". Very frustrating

This is the reason why I'm trying to import the tweak in Windows 7. I'm a consultant to a financial services Company (who represents various Leasing Companies) for whom I developed various applications (mostly in Microsoft Access VBA and VB .NET). We have agents who perform as the salespersons in my quote.

 

[H2SO4]

This tweak is very useful when you have working stations shared by different users. For example: salespersons who come to the office to post their work or check their mail. It happens even in this era of internet connectivity. The occasional user logs in to the workstation with username and password. The "username on computername" tweak allows to see if somebody is still logged in, or who logged in last.
You can rename or change the keys values if you have administrative priviledges and make yourself owner of the keys you want to modify. But the modifications have no effect in windows 7. The name of the desktop icon remains "Computer". Very frustrating

This is the reason why I'm trying to import the tweak in Windows 7. I'm a consultant to a financial services Company (who represents various Leasing Companies) for whom I developed various applications (mostly in Microsoft Access VBA and VB .NET). We have agents who perform as the salespersons in my quote.

If I understand correctly, you're talking about a scenario where a domain-joined workstation has been abandoned in a logged-on state, and you're got IT/support staff periodically roaming the "hot desking" area to try to deal with the situation?

If I haven't misunderstood, then IMHO the organisation has a fairly severe disciplinary problem on its hands, followed by a somewhat less severe but still substantial domain policy configuration issue, and finally a bit of a skills shortage in the roaming IT staff who inspect these machines. Without wishing to sound flippant in the least, the very last thing I'd worry about under those circumstances is haxx0ring the name of the computer icon on the desktop.

Disciplinary: Any user who walks away from a workstation without locking the thing is in breach of security best practices. It's bad enough when it's done for a two-minute loo break, but it's downright dangerous when they walk away for good and leave the computer logged on, especially given it's a financial services organisation. Remind me not to trust them with my money.

Configuration: Domain policy ought to be enforcing locking screen savers, and hence precluding the possibility of a machine being left unattended and logged on for longer periods of time. It may be different in an educational institution, but in a corporate environment there is really no excuse for this oversight.

Skills: Should one of the roving IT/support staff find a logged on machine, they can tell who's logged on in myriad ways. The WHOAMI command springs to mind. HOSTNAME would show them the computer name.

It's not my intention to be confrontational, but to help. With respect, in many financial orgs somebody (in IT) would get kicked down the stairs for merely allowing this situation to develop. It's better to fix it properly by educating users and the IT staff, than to seek workarounds for lax security practices.

 

[AvatarOfTheShip]

Easy to see why you picked H2SO4 as your username

 

[H2SO4]

Easy to see why you picked H2SO4 as your username

"FluffyWhiteRabbit" was already taken

The sad thing is, it's actually true. In a well-run enterprise, especially one which handles moola, allowing this situation to continue unchecked would result in a security audit, recriminations, probationary periods or firings... Better to suffer the rantings of some forum fascist than to discover the hard way that he was right.

===================================
"When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds, pretty standard really."

 

[NCondulmari]

How to rename "Computer" to "Username on Computername"

What is this useless ranting about disciplinary measures? I don't know who you are but I'm glad I never met you and hopefully never will.
It's evident you don't know how to answer the technical question so you hide behind useless and ridicule policy declamations.
If you represent the best this forum can offer it's really a sad situation.

 

[H2SO4]

What is this useless ranting about disciplinary measures? I don't know who you are but I'm glad I never met you and hopefully never will.
It's evident you don't know how to answer the technical question so you hide behind useless and ridicule policy declamations.
If you represent the best this forum can offer it's really a sad situation.

You'll be glad to know I don't represent this forum. Best of luck in your quest.

 

[NCondulmari]

Large Public School district... We have used the "ComputerName" icon naming for the past couple of years in WinXP. It is very handy for our help-desk personnel when a user calls with a problem. We just simply ask what the desktop "My computer" icon says rather than trying to talk them through the computer properties clicking. It speeds things up when you have a client who does not know the difference between "Right Click on your Desktop" and actually writing "Click" on their wooden desk top with a pencil.

We are now testing out Windows 7 for a possible future migration and I wanted the same Mycomputer Icon labeling. After several searches I found this forum. I was also successful in applying this setting but only after one member mention "Taking Ownership". Here is what I did;

- in regedit navigate to the HK CLASSES ROOT\CLSID\[20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} key
- rightclick on that key and select PERMISSIONS
- select ADVANCED then OWNER
- change owner to your currently logged in administrator login

You should now be able to edit that key. To be safe, after editing that key change the ownership back to what it was before you started.

Hope that helps.

I did everything as you say. So I succeeded in changing the keys, but the icon's label is still "Computer".
Let me know if you made it work.

 

[AvatarOfTheShip]

What is this useless ranting about disciplinary measures? I don't know who you are but I'm glad I never met you and hopefully never will.
It's evident you don't know how to answer the technical question so you hide behind useless and ridicule policy declamations.
If you represent the best this forum can offer it's really a sad situation.

Hmm - somebody's missing Il Duce