Change name of PC - Caution!

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  1. Pollensa1946
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10 Home 1909 fully updated.
       New #1

    Change name of PC - Caution!


    Win10 - 1909. My desktop PC arrived from the custom builder with a name of "DESKTOP - Alpha-String" in Windows. I wanted something simpler (for pairing with other devices) and I only have one desktop pc so changed that to "DESKTOP". I had the PC set up to boot straight to Desktop with no sign-in. The seemingly simple change of name caused Win10 to reset the boot-up sign-in procedure to require a log-on. So on restart I got an immediate pop-up saying "Wrong password, try again?". Hang on, I didn't enter any password , what is going on? I tried again with my MSoft Id and password (which fortunately I remembered) and got in. I then went to... RUN/NETPLWIZ ...and fixed my user a/c to sign in automatically. All good, but no thanks to MSoft for introducing this complexity.
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  3. Kari
    Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #2

    Pollensa1946 said:
    All good, but no thanks to MSoft for introducing this complexity.
    "Introducing this complexity"?

    But of course your PC could no longer sign in you to Windows automatically! You changed the computer name.

    For all system and networking purposes, your user name is in form PC_Name\UserProfileName. Let's say user John Doe signs in to Windows with MS account john.doe@SomeEmailProvider.com. By default, his user profile name (name of user folder) would be johnd. His PC is named as JohnsMonsterPC.

    In this example, netplwiz signs that user in as JohnsMonsterPC\johnd, with his MS account password. Logically, of course, if that changes, the credentials do not work anymore. If PC name will be changed to JohnsDesktop, John must naturally tell netplwiz to use credentials for JohnsDesktop\johnd in the future, because user JohnsMonsterPC\johnd does no longer exist.

    Quite logical Windows behaviour.

    Kari
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  4. Pollensa1946
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10 Home 1909 fully updated.
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    I agree it's logical if you understand it all before changing the name. It would help if Win10 warned you of that when you make the name change.
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  6. sygnus21
    Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       New #4

    The OP's issue doesn't make sense to me. I've changed PC names quite a few times and it never resulted in a change of login procedure. And I've always used the Microsoft Account login option.

    Something sounds flakey here.
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  7. Pollensa1946
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10 Home 1909 fully updated.
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    So you've used it on Win10 Build 1909?
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  8. Kari
    Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #6

    sygnus21 said:
    Something sounds flakey here.
    Nothing flakey there. If you are using netplwiz to automatically sign in to Windows, system uses the long username PCName\UserProfileName. If you now change the PC name and restart, netplwiz cannot sign you in because that long username is no longer valid.

    I've seen it countless times. Easy to test by yourself: use netplwiz to sign you in automatically, restart to test it works. Now change the PC name and restart, auto sign-in does not work anymore. New auto sign-in must be set in netplwiz.

    Naturally, if you do not use auto sign-in, changing PC name does not affect sign-in procedure a bit. It only affects sign-in when automatic sign-in is used.

    Kari
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  9. sygnus21
    Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       New #7

    Kari said:
    Nothing flakey there. If you are using netplwiz to automatically sign in to Windows, system uses the long username PCName\UserProfileName. If you now change the PC name and restart, netplwiz cannot sign you in because that long username is no longer valid.
    Well since I don't use netplwiz I reckon I won't see the issue

    Thanks for the clarification.
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  10. Pollensa1946
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10 Home 1909 fully updated.
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Kari said:
    Nothing flakey there. If you are using netplwiz to automatically sign in to Windows, system uses the long username PCName\UserProfileName. If you now change the PC name and restart, netplwiz cannot sign you in because that long username is no longer valid.

    I've seen it countless times. Easy to test by yourself: use netplwiz to sign you in automatically, restart to test it works. Now change the PC name and restart, auto sign-in does not work anymore. New auto sign-in must be set in netplwiz.

    Naturally, if you do not use auto sign-in, changing PC name does not affect sign-in procedure a bit. It only affects sign-in when automatic sign-in is used.

    Kari
    Very well explained. Win10 should provide that level of info when you carry out a name change. It was the initial pop-up... "Wrong password, try again?" ...which caused some excitement and confusion.
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  12. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,824
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #9

    Average user is never going to see or know anything about NETPLWIZ. Ever.

    So, IMO, having MS go into any explanatory dialog when/if the average user might change the computer name (also a rare event for average user), would be at least, or more, confusing than the "Incorrect Password" message received at Login.
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  13. sygnus21
    Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       New #10

    Well I've change computer names a few times being the Windows 10 naming scheme is hidden during setup so not unusual for me. I just never heard of NETPLWIZ.

    After Googling it, I typed "netplwiz" into Windows search and it brought up the "User Account" panel, which I've seen before but never had a need to mess with.

    Anyway, you learn something new everyday so....
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