Windows Vista Forums

Computer name and description display in Vista network
  1. #1


    Martin Walker Guest

    Computer name and description display in Vista network

    I recently replaced one of our home desktop computers with a new one
    connected wirelessly through a router to our home network. It runs Vista
    Home Premium while the other desktop (wired to the router) and the wireless
    laptop run XP Home. The network is setup as private on the new Vista
    computer. I have no problems accessing the shared folders and printers
    between these 3 computers. My only issue is the way the other computers are
    displayed in the Vista "Network" window. In XP "My Network Places", both the
    computer name and the computer description show up. In Vista "Network", only
    the computer name is displayed. In our case, the computer names are all set
    to their Dell service tag number. Is there a way to make Vista also display
    the computer description or is the best solution renaming the computers so
    it's easier to identify them on the Vista machine?



    Martin



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    rb Guest

    Re: Computer name and description display in Vista network


    For what I can tell, Vista allows max 5 columns in the Network view and none
    of them is Description. Perhaps you can extend the computer names by a dash
    and 2-3 characters; that way you keep the Dell's tag and you get somewhat
    friendlier computer names.

    rb


    "Martin Walker" <sorrycharlie@nospam.net> wrote in message
    news:uYje3NUoHHA.4424@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
    >I recently replaced one of our home desktop computers with a new one
    >connected wirelessly through a router to our home network. It runs Vista
    >Home Premium while the other desktop (wired to the router) and the wireless
    >laptop run XP Home. The network is setup as private on the new Vista
    >computer. I have no problems accessing the shared folders and printers
    >between these 3 computers. My only issue is the way the other computers are
    >displayed in the Vista "Network" window. In XP "My Network Places", both
    >the computer name and the computer description show up. In Vista "Network",
    >only the computer name is displayed. In our case, the computer names are
    >all set to their Dell service tag number. Is there a way to make Vista also
    >display the computer description or is the best solution renaming the
    >computers so it's easier to identify them on the Vista machine?
    >
    > Martin
    >
    >



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Martin Walker Guest

    Re: Computer name and description display in Vista network


    "rb" <rajko_at_nospam_sheermomentum.com> wrote in message
    news:ObRK5geoHHA.4132@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    >
    > For what I can tell, Vista allows max 5 columns in the Network view and
    > none of them is Description. Perhaps you can extend the computer names by
    > a dash and 2-3 characters; that way you keep the Dell's tag and you get
    > somewhat friendlier computer names.
    >
    > rb


    Thanks for the suggestion. I played around with renaming one of the XP
    computers. It's certainly an option but the computer name field is very
    limited. Spaces and most punctuation characters are not allowed. Dashes are
    indeed allowed so I'll probably rename all our computers something like
    SERVICETAG-USERNAME. Too bad they took away some of the flexibility in the
    Vista Network display window.

    Regards,

    Martin



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

Computer name and description display in Vista network problems?

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