How to change your Computer Name (or Workgroup) in Windows XP

by Ross McKillop on July 10, 2006

Windows

If for whatever reason you need (or want) to change your computer name (or Workgroup), follow the instructions outlined below and you’ll be done in no time ..

Note: if you’re trying to figure out how to change your Computer Name in Windows 7, that tutorial can be found here.

  1. Close all applications and ensure that you are logged in with Administrator privileges
  2. Click Start then select the Control Panel

  3. Click Performance And Maintenance

  4. Click System

  5. Click on the Computer Name tab. Here the current Computer Name and Workgroup are displayed
  6. To change the Computer Name or the Workgroup, click Change

  7. Enter a name for your computer in the Computer Name field
  8. Enter a name for your Workgroup in the Workgroup field
  9. Click OK
  10. If you changed your Workgroup name, a window will welcome you to the new Workgroup
  11. Click OK
  12. When a window prompts you to restart the computer, click OK

  • Kelly

    I want to thank you for putting this kind of info out there. I’m just hoping to get better at finding what I need. Can’t seem to shake a remote hacker and I’d definitely like to send a jolt of something not-so-nice his direction.
    Sorry for the little fit there, but thanks again.
    K.D.S.

  • http://www.simplehelp.net Ross

    Kelly,

    Glad to hear it helped (or I hope it did) – if you’re trying to keep someone “out” of your PC, check to see your ISP offers free security software – in particular, a firewall. If your ISP doesn’t offer free security software, try looking on dslreports.com for suggestions on other free or trial firewalls.

    Hope this helps -

    Ross

  • http://gameburn.org William

    If you have Windows XP, why do you use linux?
    Basically I dont see any advantages to using linux over windows xp, Im dual booting windows
    and ubuntu. Ubuntu is nice and all but I dont see anything that would make me prefer it
    over windows.The only thing i have been using ubuntu for is web browsing playing
    music/movies (cant play games) which I can do better/hassle free in windows.
    So what are the advantages of l using linux over xp?

  • Brokeneye

    I just change my computer name and workgroup name, rebooted the machine, and now I am no longer able to logon. I’m using the same username and password as before and no luck. Any suggestions? I am not able to use my laptop at all now. PLEASE help!!!
    Thanks

  • Stanly

    thank u 4 answring my question

  • switchskier

    wow Willam someone should take your keyboard away for asking such a question.. why would you use linux if you have windows xp… dude you better work for MS..

  • mark lofokhai

    please i have a system that i just re-installed the operating system on it. but right now the workgroup editing box is not highlited so i can change the workgroup name.

    any that can help?

  • jozz

    hello,

    does naming my comp. “ABC-jozz” with several others with comp. name such as “ABC-ann”, “ABC-eryn”, ABC-etc….

    and being in a group of “ABC”

    will create any conflicts?

    I always get “duplicate name exist in the network” warning..

    I’ve changed mine several times but the warning kept appearing.

    any suggestions? how should i name a computer and naming a group properly?

  • vageesa

    i unnable to change mycomputer name that option is disabled tell solution

  • Ajay

    Changing the computer name and workgroup is disabled due to virus i think. But i dont want to format the system. is there any solution for this. Its urgent, pls help…….

  • http://www.simplehelp.net Ross McKillop

    @Ajay:

    Which version of Windows are you using? Are you certain that you have administrative privileges with the account you login to Windows with? I haven’t heard of a virus that stops you from changing the computer name and/or workgroup (which certainly doesn’t mean there isn’t one, but that seems like a fairly odd thing for a virus to do). Also, have you ran a virus check lately? There are some good free ones out there…

  • ajay

    Yes me only the administrator n i have all the privileges. i ran the antivirus scan also, with Macfee ver 8.5. but still not yet resolved.wht to do……

  • http://www.simplehelp.net Ross McKillop

    @ajay:

    ok cool – next question: at what step does it ‘fail’? Do you get an error message, and if so, what is it?

  • Jordon

    I want to know how to change that system name once we put during installation.

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  • Win Kyaw Htet

    Please help me!
    My Computer is not change Workgroup.
    Please support me.

  • troy

    an upgrade changed my computer name to the NETBIOS name it had before update the DNS name cannot be added to database because it has an underscore in it. because windows wont start i cant get to system properties so i cant get to the network ID tag. so i dont know what to do. i do know that the defaultconfig.for win xp DNS server allows host names with underscores. WIN_HOME

    help!!!!

  • beeba

    Thanks! This was really helpful!

  • Hoshi

    I wanna do just the opposite – I want to remove my computer name.

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  • http://eronce eronce

    gratitu

  • Michele

    When I try to change my computer’s name, it shows a period at the end of the name, and the system will not accept it. I tried to delete it, but it doesn’t go away. Any advice?

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  • Matheus

    eu nao consigo muda meu workgroup, por nao haver a seleção, eu formatei, tudo certo, mas nao deu de entra, pois o dominio nao foi encontrado, vi num forum que prescisa mudar o nome do pc e mudar o dominio, soh que nao da pra selecionar. eu executo o ‘sysdm.cpl’ e nao consigo nao tem como… me ajudem por favor !

  • Aboagye

    when I try to change the computer name error message appears ‘ the following error occurred attempting to change the computer name. Access is denied.’
    Plesase help me solve this problem

  • Dhirendra

    Hi
    All, please i have a system that i just re-installed the operating system on it. but right now the workgroup editing box is not highlited so i can change the workgroup name.

    Please give me right solution.

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  • colt

    thanks i am looking for this info

  • Renato Silva Araújo

    Muito obrigado, você não sabe o quanto me ajudou, de verdade. ^^

  • naveed

    hi all i have the same problem like brokeneye, i changed my workgroup name and when i restarted i can not login. Help me to restore my system.
    thanks

  • Prakash

    Thanks for the informative information. Excellent.

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  • sandeep negi

    i changed my computer name but now i want to recover my computer original name but how plz.. help

  • sandeep negi

    i have win xp sp2

  • anton

    Hey guys how to change your computer name every time it’s start ?

    Best Regards

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  • Addis

    Thanks

  • KING

    YA THANKS

    ITS WORKING

  • Rajendra Verma

    when i going to change our computer name i found followinf error.
    the following error eccoured attemting to change the computer name to *sd*
    access denide.
    what i want to do for solwed my problem

  • Rolan

    a period is added to my name change

  • Ramkannan

    it was not change in my pc workgroup. so what ca n i do. i need change my work gruop but it can’t. pls reply

  • Srinu

    How to change a windows xp machine from work group to home group.

    Thanks,
    Srinu

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  • madhu

    sir i need help, i require to change workgroup in my system but its not highlighted in that dialog box

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  • Mr Shit

    burn your computer