Renaming PC creates extra ID

It is really easy.

Tick the box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" and press apply.
Untick the box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" and press apply
Tick again the box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" and press apply
Then (assuming you don't want to enter a password), yet again, untick the box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer"

The idea here is to make it forget the old PC name/user credentials and remember the new one. When you "untick" the box it makes you put in your password.

There is no risk to do this and it only takes a minute. Worst case is you type the password wrong and it doesn't work in which case you can try again.

lx07, you are so kind - but do I change the name to the desired name before going thru that process?

Yes, that right. Best of luck!

Fixed !!!


Thank you


EDIT - Except that the Desktop-****** is still showing on the network, cannot be accessed. I'm hoping the next reboot of the "master laptop" will get rid of it, not going worry now as all files are accessible on W230SS.

alphanumeric said:

It seems though, now, if I wait long enough the name changes on its own to match what I changed it to...

That's what's happened, didn't take long either :)

alphanumeric said:

You may have to shut all the PC's down together, then boot them up one at a time.

That's what I was dreading!

I'm just remembering when it first happened and I went to Microsoft Support - they were clueless. Three cheers for TenForums.

clemenzina said:

I was hoping for a (1) Do this, and (2) Do that, and (3) Bingo! solution

I must admit I find it far easier and quicker to just use PowerShell's Rename-Computer cmdlet.

1. Right-click on Start and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. When the PowerShell console opens, type or copy/paste the following then press RETURN/ENTER:

Code:

Rename-Computer -NewName XPS-9560 -Restart

3. There is no 3... that's it to rename the device.

(After the restart, you can re-open the PowerShell console and enter the command whoami - note the lack of spaces. The result will show you computername\signed-in user so you can check the new computername.)

Note that, as previously mentioned, the netplwiz operation always needs to be carried out after any device rename.

Hope this helps...