Changing windows 10 computer name

Forum Moderators: open

Message Too Old, No Replies

Changing windows 10 computer name

Dean5000

12:34 am on Oct 23, 2018 (gmt 0)

Hello everyone. It feels good to be back. I used to post with the name Adam5000, but I forgot the password, and the email and email password for the account. So I begrudgingly singed up again using a different name.

I have a question for your impressive, giant brains (smile).

I recently bought a refurbished computer with windows 10 pro on it, and for a demo, the person selling it to me turns the computer on.

When he does this, a message appears on the screen that effectively says, What do you want to name the computer?.

At this point I didn't know if I wanted to buy it or not, so we used his name.

I ended up buying it, and when I got it to my house, I made some attempts to change the name to my name.

These changes partially worked, and my name now appears on the opening security screen.

But his name still appears as the default in several other places.

I'd like to change his name to my name everywhere.

Help!

keyplyr

12:57 am on Oct 23, 2018 (gmt 0)

Welcome (back) Dean5000

I think you need to make your name Admin, then you can either change or delete the other user.

topr8

7:08 pm on Oct 23, 2018 (gmt 0)

the computer name is different to any user names.

what attempts did you make to change the name?

if you type 'computer name' into the search box (on the task bar) your computer details should come up along with a button 'rename this pc' ... press that button.

keyplyr

7:10 pm on Oct 23, 2018 (gmt 0)

Good info, thanks topr8

Dean5000

4:33 am on Nov 25, 2018 (gmt 0)

I've tried what you've suggested, but still no luck. I found the 'change name' button in the settings section, and changed the name to 'Admin', and it didn't seem to change anything. The name is still the same as the last time I changed it. How do I start as an admin at computer start up? Do you think this will help?

Help!

Dean5000

1:14 am on Nov 28, 2018 (gmt 0)

Hello everyone.

I'm having a problem with the used computer I just bought.

Before I bought it, it had a fresh install of windows 10. When it was turned on for a demonstration, the computer needed a name to continue.

Since I didn't know at first if I was going to buy it or not, the name of the guy selling it was used.

I've forgotten what I did next, but the name on the window that opens first (the one with the name on it) changed to my name.

But it didn't change anywhere else.

And now it's like a battle between me and (innocently) the person I bought it from.

I need help to change the name of the computer to my name, and delete his name.

HELP!

[edited by: not2easy at 2:31 am (utc) on Nov 28, 2018]
[edit reason] splice cleanup [/edit]

not2easy

2:33 am on Nov 28, 2018 (gmt 0)

Admin is a system 'name'. Try the same steps to get to the change name button and change the name to a different name for the computer.

Dean5000

4:10 am on Nov 28, 2018 (gmt 0)

Done, but no effective change. I went to the settings menu, then to system, then to About, and used the rename button to change the name. Then I rebooted. And the name did change in that one spot in the about menu. But it didn't change anywhere else.

not2easy

4:54 am on Nov 28, 2018 (gmt 0)

But that is not what was suggested earlier. You are not looking for the "Change Name" button, you are looking for the button that says "rename this pc".

if you type 'computer name' into the search box (on the task bar) your computer details should come up along with a button 'rename this pc' ... press that button.

Dean5000

12:22 am on Nov 30, 2018 (gmt 0)

That helped, but I think most of the trouble is still there. I typed 'computer name' into the search box, and navigated to the 'rename this pc' button, and i saw the pc name was one I don't remember putting there. But anyway I was able to successfully change it. But the lock screen still has the name I changed it to the first time. And the name that was used originally is still in the windows explorer window as a folder named 'original name', and when I right click on it I don't receive an option to rename it.

Dean5000

9:14 pm on Dec 2, 2018 (gmt 0)

not2, are you still there?

not2easy

10:08 pm on Dec 2, 2018 (gmt 0)

I can only say that it might be helpful if you take notes when you make changes so that they can be undone. I have not used Windows in several years so it's sort of impossible to give you step by step "how to" for these changes. Generally, you should have somewhere on your system a user management panel available to an admin that allows you to change files and file permissions.

There are many folks here who can help with Windows 10 specifics, I've never used it. My suggestions came from reading the previous efforts to help.