Rename computer / local host name?

[stevejrc]

I bought my laptop from work and want to change its name. I changed the computer name through System Properties > Net Identification, but can the local host name be changed (thats still what the old computer name was).
Is local host name what the internet sees you as and computer name what a LAN would see you as. Would local host name need registering with my ISP or something and does it need to be unique to anyone else and importantly does changing it bugger up getting online.

Cheers,
Steve

[cyberskye]

I changed the computer name through System Properties > Net Identification, but can the local host name be changed

I don't understand this statement. A host can have but one name. It can have aliases assigned to an interface (or ip address).

All machines refer to themselves as localhost (ip: 127.0.0.1). Don't change that as some software requires it. It's self-referencial - as in when you use the word "me"

Is that what you are talking about?

[stevejrc]

I changed just the computer name through Control Panel>System>Network Identification.

If I do a 'ipconfig /all' at the command prompt, it says

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host name . . . . . : is the same as my old computer name, Why?
etc

[koldchillah]

Originally posted by stevejrc
I changed just the computer name through Control Panel>System>Network Identification.

If I do a 'ipconfig /all' at the command prompt, it says

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Host name . . . . . : is the same as my old computer name, Why?
etc

you rebooted after changing the computer name right?

[stevejrc]

Yes and I did this a few days ago so its had a few reboots since.
I checked system information and it says my new computer name.

if you do a 'ipconfig /?' theres some options for adapters and stuff, would any of these refresh the host name.

[koldchillah]

Windows 2000 right? (or so your sig says)
If so, right click 'My Network Places' > choose properties.

right click your LAN connection > choose properties.

Do you have NetBeui enabled? If so disable it. You only need TCP/IP unless your using NetBeui for something internally.

Computer Name = NetBIOS name (NetBeui protocol is an extension of NetBIOS)

Host Name = TCP/IP name

Windows uses NetBIOS over top of TCP/IP which explains why your system information screen displays your new name. It's getting that from NetBIOS b/c thats what 'Computer Name' refers to.

Also while your in the LAN connection properties, select 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and select properties.

click the "advanced" button down to the lower right corner.

select the WINS tab and tell me what you see.. Is NetBIOS over TCP/IP enabled or disabled?

[stevejrc]

I'm using win2k with dialup 56k. Freeserve proxy, obtain IP address automatically.

I uninstalled everything but TCP/IP in the components list (heard there not needed and can be uninstalled)

Under WINS I only have the option WINS addresses (none listed)
and Enable LM Hosts lookup and no NetBIOS over TCP/IP option (maybe only for LAN, I use dialup ).

[koldchillah]

aah yes. dial-up.. thats a bit different... I wonder if something is up with your hosts file. Just to check, go to C:\Winnt\system32\drivers\etc and look for a file called "hosts". If it doesn't exist you have to look for "hosts.sam" and copy it to "hosts". Open "hosts" into notepad and it should look like this:

---begin file---
# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows NT.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names.
# Each entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address
# should be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
127.0.0.1 localhost
---end file---

If you can't find the hosts file, you can create one by cutting and pasting whats above. In this file, all "#"s mark a comment, i.e.
everything written behind a "#" will be ignored to the rest of the line. The only thing significant is that last line:
127.0.0.1 localhost

this line basically reassures that your name IS "your name".. if that makes any sense at all.. lol

It all has to do with what cyberskye mentioned before.. QUOTE: A host can have but one name. It can have aliases assigned to an interface (or ip address). All machines refer to themselves as localhost (ip: 127.0.0.1).

[stevejrc]

I checked it and its ok, like yours. But got me thinking, if its something to do with hosts file like you say:
Freeserve uses a 'dns cache server' and even if I set it to 'bypass local address' it still access the cache server (as a transparent dns cache server).
I tested this in the hosts file, if I use the 127.0.0.1 in front of a site I want to block it doesn't actually block it even after doing a ipconfig /flushdns. /displaydns shows the 127.0.0.1 against the site I wanted to block, but still can access the site, so its getting the ip address from dns cache server?

So is my system ignoring the hosts file, resolving dns from the cache server and accepting what freeserve thinks I'm called hence my old name. If true how would I tell it.