Network name problem

[Maggotry]

I had to re-install windows (don't ask) on one of my computers. I stupidly gave it the same name as another computer on my home network (of 3 pc's). I can only see one or the other on the network now from the third computer and the two with the same name will not see each other at all. I tried re-naming the computer in the Network ID tab, but that doesn't help. Is there anyway to re-name this computer without having to re-install the o/s? Does this all make sense?😕

 

[me19562]

which OS r u running?

 

[Maggotry]

Win ME on the one that I want to change the name and 98SE on the others.

 

[Maggotry]

bump

 

[Rapamatic]

rebooting is all thats needed for renaming... probably something else... check workgroup name, ip configuration, subnet mask, etc.

 

[Maggotry]

Workgroup name is correct. IP assigned by router (and it's unique to network). What's a subnet mask?

 

[Rapamatic]

the subnet mask tells the computer what IP addresses are on the same subnet (i.e. which ones it does not have to use the router to communicate with). If all your PCs are using IP addresses like 192.168.1.X then 255.255.255.0 is the correct subnet mask.

a better way to see them on the network is to attempt to ping them... network neighborhood is very unreliable in my experience. Get to a MS-DOS prompt (Start--Run--"Command" or "Cmd") then type "ping" and then the name of the other computer. If that doesn't work, trying "ping" and then the IP address of the other computer. Making sure this works is the first step towards solving your networking problem.

 

[virulent]

once u find out if you can ping it, you should do a search for the computer. network neighborhood should then display it in your workgroup.

 

[me19562]

Remember that in order to change the name u have to change it in the workgroup tab and in the TCP/IP configuration for the NIC u r using