A duplicate name exists on the network - what does that mean? How do I fix it?

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i am in a university campus at the moment and i am facing this problem 'a duplicate name exists on the network'. If i change the name of my computer and the workgroup how will i exchange information with the rest of the university workgroup?

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Change the name of your computer, not the name of your workgroup.

Leo
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I got this error message while booting up my laptop. I am connected to my home wireless router but this is the only computer I have. How could this error message happen? Do I still change computer name? Obviously, the current computer name came with the laptop since I had not a clue about naming computer.

The article solved my problem.

Thank you very much
Bill

I have a laptop and got "A duplicate name exists on the network" I changed, but still I am getting the same message. What to do?

Thanks!I fixed it.

I read your thing over and my computer says that changes may affect across network changes, so I'm scared to change the name. What do i do?

Windows system error- a duplicate name exists on the Network". This could be because of a duplicate name used in the Network connection. Every computer should have a unique name in the network, in order to be identified in the Network. To resolve the issue, I suggest you change the name of the computer by performing the following:

1. On the Desktop, right-click MyComputer.
2. Choose Properties.
3. Choose the Computer Description Tab.
4. On the window displayed, click the Change button.
5. This will open another window.
6. On the displayed window, Type the new Computer Name.
7. Do not modify anything with the Workgroup box.
8. Click Apply, then O.K.

This can also happen if you have an ethernet connection, and inadvertently enable a wireless card at the same time. DHCP assigns two leases with the same name but different IP addresses. Solution is to disable the wireless, check ipconfig at the client, then delete the other lease at the server.

Hi, everyone! Me and a colleague of mine use VPN and share samo files. Two days ago I installed Windows XP Pro SP2 (removed my old SP1) and set up file sharing again but it doesn't work. My colleague gets "You are not connected because a duplicate name exists on the network. ...." when he tries to connect. We changed the names of our PCs and even our workgroup name but nothing help. What't the problem?

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