(cache) Changed "Computer Name"

jaytechman · 03-31-2005, 10:28 AM

I recently got a new XP Pro machine and without thinking during the setup wizard I chose a rather long name for "Computer Name." Later it posed a problem because dropdowns showing mapped network drives had the drive letter to the right and it was off the edge of the window due to the long Computer Name.

So, I went into Settings - Control Panel - System - Computer Name - Change and I changed the name to something a lot shorter.

I didn't notice any problems after that (except perhaps one minor issue with my old W98 machine squawking over my trying to run a program on the XP from it).

I notice that there are a lot of instances of the old Computer Name still in the Registry on the XP machine. Should I go in and replaced all instances with the new Computer Name?

Also, the file "system.sav" is apparently a "hive" file that was created when Windows was being set up. It's name and contents refer to the old Computer Name. Is this a file I should ignore or delete or leave alone or what?

Thanks!

Jay

**scottcamp** · 03-31-2005, 10:55 AM

You mean the registered owner name?

there's really only one spot that for xp to do this, although if applications are doing it, you may need to change it for those particular ones too.

***Always back up your registry before changes***
For xp go to startmenu/run type regedit
navigate to hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion

find the "registered owner" and see if that is the old name. if so, right click on it and select modify. Where the old name is (in value data) put the new one in, and hit ok.

as for applications that this is happening to, you do much the same thing, except that obviously you do it under the applications registry entry.

jaytechman · 03-31-2005, 12:17 PM

Well, here's a list of what I found...
_____________________________________________

CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\
ComputerDescriptions = 4th in list after correct current 3

CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\
MountPoints2\##[OLDCOMPUTERRNAME]#[MAPPEDDRIVEPATHNAME1]

Same as above for 2-5

CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\
WorkgroupCrawler\Printers

- all redundent except ONE which is just [OLDCOMPUTERRNAME]\Printers

CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\
WorkgroupCrawler\Shares = with each old mapped drive path

CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Media\WMSDK\General\ = ComputerName Key = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Hewlett-Packard\DigitalImaging\CtxMgr\
Strings = PCFriendlyName = 0,0,[OLDCOMPUTERNAME]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Windows\CurrentVersion\Telephony\
Locations\Location0 = Name = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers\
Epson Stylus C86 Series\DsSpooler = serverName = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME]

= shortServerName = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME]

= uNCName = \\0[OLDCOMPUTERNAME]\Epson Sylus C86 Series

= url = http://[OLDCOMPUTERNAME]/EpsonC86 (S)

Same sequence as above for HP LJ 4 and for MS Office Doc Image Writer (expect no url for latter).

Same for Snagit and UPS Thermal.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Widcomm\BTConfig\General = DeviceName = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Printers…

Same as entire list of series’ above

Same entire series but CurrentControlSet.

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam = Default = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME]

HKEY_USERS\
S-1-5-21-4074850040-3961122816-2034930041-500\
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComputerDescriptions

- is 4th in list of 3 correct computer names

MountPoints2 entire series again.

WorkgroupCrawler again; and again main concern is path ending just in Printer with no correlary with new computer name.

Windows Media series again.
_____________________________________________

Soooo, anyone else care to comment?

I'm hoping it's fine to delete all the MRU and similar type entries, and all instances of [OLDCOMPUTERNAME] that are in lists where the new computer name and all other computernames on the network are already there as well and/or the mapped network drive paths are already there with the new computer name.

The few places where it's not that cut-and-dried, and figure it should be fine to replace the old computer name with the new computer name.

Comments... anyone?

03-31-2005, 10:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
jaytechman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 58 OS: XP Pro	Changed "Computer Name" I recently got a new XP Pro machine and without thinking during the setup wizard I chose a rather long name for "Computer Name." Later it posed a problem because dropdowns showing mapped network drives had the drive letter to the right and it was off the edge of the window due to the long Computer Name. So, I went into Settings - Control Panel - System - Computer Name - Change and I changed the name to something a lot shorter. I didn't notice any problems after that (except perhaps one minor issue with my old W98 machine squawking over my trying to run a program on the XP from it). I notice that there are a lot of instances of the old Computer Name still in the Registry on the XP machine. Should I go in and replaced all instances with the new Computer Name? Also, the file "system.sav" is apparently a "hive" file that was created when Windows was being set up. It's name and contents refer to the old Computer Name. Is this a file I should ignore or delete or leave alone or what? Thanks! Jay

03-31-2005, 10:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
scottcamp Master Chump Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 484 OS: XP Home	You mean the registered owner name? there's really only one spot that for xp to do this, although if applications are doing it, you may need to change it for those particular ones too. **Always back up your registry before changes For xp go to startmenu/run type regedit navigate to hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion find the "registered owner" and see if that is the old name. if so, right click on it and select modify. Where the old name is (in value data) put the new one in, and hit ok. as for applications that this is happening to, you do much the same thing, except that obviously you do it under the applications registry entry. __________________ "Four freedoms: The first is freedom of speech and expression - everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of everyone to worship God in his own way, everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want . . . everywhere in the world. The fourth** is freedom from fear . . . anywhere in the world." --Franklin D. Roosevelt U.S. President

03-31-2005, 12:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
jaytechman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 58 OS: XP Pro	Well, here's a list of what I found... _____________________________________________ CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\ ComputerDescriptions = 4th in list after correct current 3 CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\ MountPoints2\##[OLDCOMPUTERRNAME]#[MAPPEDDRIVEPATHNAME1] Same as above for 2-5 CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\ WorkgroupCrawler\Printers - all redundent except ONE which is just [OLDCOMPUTERRNAME]\Printers CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32\ WorkgroupCrawler\Shares = with each old mapped drive path CUR_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Media\WMSDK\General\ = ComputerName Key = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME] HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Hewlett-Packard\DigitalImaging\CtxMgr\ Strings = PCFriendlyName = 0,0,[OLDCOMPUTERNAME] HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Windows\CurrentVersion\Telephony\ Locations\Location0 = Name = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME] HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers\ Epson Stylus C86 Series\DsSpooler = serverName = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME] = shortServerName = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME] = uNCName = \\0[OLDCOMPUTERNAME]\Epson Sylus C86 Series = url = http://[OLDCOMPUTERNAME]/EpsonC86 (S) Same sequence as above for HP LJ 4 and for MS Office Doc Image Writer (expect no url for latter). Same for Snagit and UPS Thermal. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Widcomm\BTConfig\General = DeviceName = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME] HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Printers… Same as entire list of series’ above Same entire series but CurrentControlSet. HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam = Default = [OLDCOMPUTERNAME] HKEY_USERS\ S-1-5-21-4074850040-3961122816-2034930041-500\ Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComputerDescriptions - is 4th in list of 3 correct computer names MountPoints2 entire series again. WorkgroupCrawler again; and again main concern is path ending just in Printer with no correlary with new computer name. Windows Media series again. _____________________________________________ Soooo, anyone else care to comment? I'm hoping it's fine to delete all the MRU and similar type entries, and all instances of [OLDCOMPUTERNAME] that are in lists where the new computer name and all other computernames on the network are already there as well and/or the mapped network drive paths are already there with the new computer name. The few places where it's not that cut-and-dried, and figure it should be fine to replace the old computer name with the new computer name. Comments... anyone?