change computer name

[bry25_uk]

I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in the
previous owners name. The only name I can change is the user. How can i
change the ACTUAL identity of the computer. For example, in task manager, it
displays a name and on my main computer(w/less networked) it show the
connection owner of the laptop as this name too. these are what i'd like to
change.
ps i'm using XP home ed all updated.
thanks
Bryan

 

[Elmo]

bry25_uk wrote:
> I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in the
> previous owner's name. The only name I can change is the user. How can I
> change the ACTUAL identity of the computer? For example, in task manager, it
> displays a name and on my main computer (w/less networked) it shows the
> connection owner of the laptop as this name too. These are what I'd like to
> change.
> ps I'm using XP home, all updated.
> thanks
> Bryan

Open System Properties, "Computer Name" tab, "Change" button.

--
Joe =o)

 

[Gordon]

bry25_uk wrote:

> I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in the
> previous owners name. The only name I can change is the user. How can i
> change the ACTUAL identity of the computer. For example, in task manager,
> it displays a name and on my main computer(w/less networked) it show the
> connection owner of the laptop as this name too. these are what i'd like
> to change.
> ps i'm using XP home ed all updated.
> thanks
> Bryan

Answered in windowsxp.customize....please CROSS post in future instead of
MULTI posting...

 

[JS]

Click: Start/Control Panel/System Icon
In the 'System Properties' windows click on the 'Computer Name'
Then click on the 'Change' button.

Also from Kelly's Korner
Change Computer Name (Line 109)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

MS Knowledge Base article:
How to change a computer name, join a domain, and add a computer description
in Windows XP or in Windows Server 2003:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295017

JS

"bry25_uk" <bry25uk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0BA74A72-04E6-417D-B2EE-3ACD4016D525@microsoft.com...
>I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in the
> previous owners name. The only name I can change is the user. How can i
> change the ACTUAL identity of the computer. For example, in task manager,
> it
> displays a name and on my main computer(w/less networked) it show the
> connection owner of the laptop as this name too. these are what i'd like
> to
> change.
> ps i'm using XP home ed all updated.
> thanks
> Bryan

 

[bry25_uk]

thanks for all your help, i have already done that, but it still shows as a
different name elsewhere. ie , taskmanager, and registered user. The computer
name shows what i want but anything else is still refered to as the previous
owner.
In task manager under "user name" is where it shows his name.
regards
Bryan

"JS" wrote:

> Click: Start/Control Panel/System Icon
> In the 'System Properties' windows click on the 'Computer Name'
> Then click on the 'Change' button.
>
> Also from Kelly's Korner
> Change Computer Name (Line 109)
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
> MS Knowledge Base article:
> How to change a computer name, join a domain, and add a computer description
> in Windows XP or in Windows Server 2003:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295017
>
> JS
>
> "bry25_uk" <bry25uk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0BA74A72-04E6-417D-B2EE-3ACD4016D525@microsoft.com...
> >I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in the
> > previous owners name. The only name I can change is the user. How can i
> > change the ACTUAL identity of the computer. For example, in task manager,
> > it
> > displays a name and on my main computer(w/less networked) it show the
> > connection owner of the laptop as this name too. these are what i'd like
> > to
> > change.
> > ps i'm using XP home ed all updated.
> > thanks
> > Bryan
>
>
>

 

[Elmo]

bry25_uk wrote:
> Thanks for all your help, I have already done that but it still shows as a
> different name elsewhere. ie, taskmanager, and registered user. The computer
> name shows what I want but anything else is still referred to as the previous
> owner.
> In task manager under "user name" is where it shows his name.
> regards
> Bryan
>
> "JS" wrote:
>
>> Click: Start/Control Panel/System Icon
>> In the 'System Properties' windows click on the 'Computer Name'
>> Then click on the 'Change' button.
>>
>> Also from Kelly's Korner
>> Change Computer Name (Line 109)
>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>>
>> MS Knowledge Base article:
>> How to change a computer name, join a domain, and add a computer description
>> in Windows XP or in Windows Server 2003:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295017
>>
>> JS
>>
>> "bry25_uk" <bry25uk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:0BA74A72-04E6-417D-B2EE-3ACD4016D525@microsoft.com...
>>> I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in the
>>> previous owners name. The only name I can change is the user. How can i
>>> change the ACTUAL identity of the computer. For example, in task manager,
>>> it
>>> displays a name and on my main computer(w/less networked) it show the
>>> connection owner of the laptop as this name too. these are what i'd like
>>> to
>>> change.
>>> ps I'm using XP home ed all updated.
>>> thanks
>>> Bryan

Run regedit, press Home key, F3 key, type in the name you want to find,
change all occurrences to the preferred name.

BUT, if you change a pathname to a folder that doesn't exist, you could
really be in trouble. Make a registry backup and a system restore point
before trying this one.

--
Joe =o)

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 1/2/2008 12:27 PM, and on a whim, bry25_uk pounded
out on the keyboard:

> thanks for all your help, i have already done that, but it still shows as a
> different name elsewhere. ie , taskmanager, and registered user. The computer
> name shows what i want but anything else is still refered to as the previous
> owner.
> In task manager under "user name" is where it shows his name.
> regards
> Bryan
>
> "JS" wrote:
>
>> Click: Start/Control Panel/System Icon
>> In the 'System Properties' windows click on the 'Computer Name'
>> Then click on the 'Change' button.
>>
>> Also from Kelly's Korner
>> Change Computer Name (Line 109)
>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>>
>> MS Knowledge Base article:
>> How to change a computer name, join a domain, and add a computer description
>> in Windows XP or in Windows Server 2003:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295017
>>
>> JS
>>
>> "bry25_uk" <bry25uk@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:0BA74A72-04E6-417D-B2EE-3ACD4016D525@microsoft.com...
>>> I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in the
>>> previous owners name. The only name I can change is the user. How can i
>>> change the ACTUAL identity of the computer. For example, in task manager,
>>> it
>>> displays a name and on my main computer(w/less networked) it show the
>>> connection owner of the laptop as this name too. these are what i'd like
>>> to
>>> change.
>>> ps i'm using XP home ed all updated.
>>> thanks
>>> Bryan
>>
>>

Hi Bryan,

Try this:
http://www.download.com/XP-Registered-Name-Changer/3000-2094_4-10586823.html

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
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Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[- Bobb -]

So it's NOT COMPUTER NAME you want to change ...
it is USER NAME:


"Elmo" <elmogeek@iglou.invalid> wrote in message
news:u4o7G$XTIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> bry25_uk wrote:
>> Thanks for all your help, I have already done that but it still shows
>> as a different name elsewhere. ie, taskmanager, and registered user.
>> The computer name shows what I want but anything else is still referred
>> to as the previous owner.
>> In task manager under "user name" is where it shows his name.
>> regards
>> Bryan


Start-Control Panel - user accounts - Change - and change previous user's
name from"old name " to "new name".

 

[Plato]

=?Utf-8?B?YnJ5MjVfdWs=?= wrote:
>
> I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in the

Anytime you get a used PC one "should" fdisk/format/reinstall the OS you
want to totally fresh.


--
http://www.bootdisk.com/

 

[- Bobb -]

"Plato" <|@|.|> wrote in message
news:477c74a5$0$255$bb4e3ad8@newscene.com...
> =?Utf-8?B?YnJ5MjVfdWs=?= wrote:
>>
>> I have bought a second hand laptop, but the computers "identity" is in
>> the
>
> Anytime you get a used PC one "should" fdisk/format/reinstall the OS you
> want to totally fresh.

I suspect original poster had no restore CD/OS, so just wanted to purge
the first user's files.