Windows 7 / Networking

Changing the Computer and Workgroup Name

To implement a flawless Windows 7 network, each computer must have a unique name, and every computer must use the same workgroup name. (I am assuming here that you're setting up a small network in your home or small office. Larger networks are typically divided into multiple workgroups, where all the machines in each workgroup are related in some way-marketing, IT, sales, and so on.)

Here are the steps to follow to change the computer name and workgroup name in Windows 7:

  1. Click Start, type systempropertiescomputername, and press Enter. The System Properties dialog box appears with the Computer Name tab displayed.
  2. Click Change. The Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears, as shown in Figure below.
  3. Type the computer name.
  4. Select the Workgroup option and type the common workgroup name.
  5. Click OK. Windows 7 tells you that you must restart the computer to put the changes into effect.
  6. Click OK to return to the System Properties dialog box.
  7. Click Close. Windows 7 prompts you to restart your computer.
  8. Click Restart Now.
Computer Name/Domain Changes
[Previous] [Contents] [Next]

In this tutorial:

  1. Setting a Small Network
  2. Setting Up a Peer-to-Peer Network
  3. Changing the Computer and Workgroup Name
  4. Connecting to a Wireless Network
  5. Working with Windows 7's Basic Network Tools and Tasks
  6. Accessing the Network and Sharing Center
  7. Setting Up a Homegroup
  8. Activating Homegroup Connections
  9. Creating a Homegroup
  10. Joining a Homegroup
  11. Accessing the Homegroup
  12. Changing Homegroup Settings
  13. Turning Off Homegroup Connections
  14. Viewing Network Computers and Devices
  15. Displaying a Network Map
  16. Viewing Network Status Details
  17. Customizing Your Network
  18. Managing Network Connections
  19. Opening the Network Connections Window
  20. Renaming a Network Connection
  21. Enabling Automatic IP Addressing
  22. Confirming That Windows 7 Is Configured for Dynamic IP Addressing
  23. Displaying the Computer's Current IP Address
  24. Setting Up a Static IP Address
  25. Displaying the Current DNS Addresses
  26. Specifying the Static IP Address
  27. Using a Network Connection to Wake Up a Sleeping Computer
  28. Disabling a Network Connection
  29. Managing Wireless Network Connections
  30. Opening the Manage Wireless Networks Window
  31. Creating an Ad Hoc Wireless Network
  32. Working with Wireless Connection Properties
  33. Modifying Connection Properties
  34. Modifying Security Properties
  35. Renaming Wireless Connections
  36. Reordering Wireless Connections
  37. Creating User-Specific Wireless Connections
  38. Removing Wireless Connections