Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

9 points

changing computer name

Hello,

I have a clean install of leopard. I also signed up for the trial .mac account (I'm not sure if this is affecting anything).

I want to change the name of the computer.
So I go to the preference pane and sharing and change the name.
But when I start the terminal, it shows the old compute name:
(old computer name):~ (username)$

Am I missing something. Which computer name is correct what it says in the shell in terminal or what the sharing preference pane is telling me (new name).local

I know I have changed the name successfully in the past few days, I don't know why it's stuck now.

This is the last time I want to change the name! The reason I want to change it is because the old name has my name in it and I don't want to connect to a network and have people identify me (nothing subversive just privacy! I'm a teacher and I don't want students trying to hack my notebook because they realize it's mine).

My account is an admin account.

Thank you for any help.

MacBook Pro 2 GHz core duo, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Nov 24, 2007 12:17 PM

Best reply

Topher Kessler

Level 6

9,905 points

Posted on Nov 24, 2007 12:19 PM

You can change the computer name in the "Sharing" Preference Pane at the top in the field labeled "Computer Name". Try fixing permissions to see if that will let the new name implement somewhere. It should change the terminal settings.

View in context

18 replies

cogneuro

Level 1

9 points

Jan 30, 2008 1:16 PM in response to nerowolfe

what exactly is the danger here?
my shortname is currently xxxx.
my home directory is /Users/xxxx.

I want to replace xxxx with a different name. will this break anything?

thanks

Apr 12, 2008 3:03 AM in response to SteveLamb0

i tried it this way and it ended pretty ok, but it moved the old user to another folder with the shortname. im wondering since it did that, is it safe to delete it??? i really wanna know cuz i wanna delete the older user, but also be sure it is safe to do so. thanks!

SteveLamb0

Level 5

4,110 points

Apr 13, 2008 4:44 AM in response to Angelo Vilar

Hi

What's the name of the folder? Is it Deleted Users? Taken from Mac Help:

Deleting a user account
If you have an administrator account, you can delete user accounts on your computer that are no longer needed.
When you delete a user account you have the option to save the user’s home folder containing their files and settings or delete them.
IMPORTANT: If the user’s account is encrypted (FileVault is turned on), turn FileVault off for the user before you attempt to delete the account.
To delete a user account:
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, and click Accounts.
Open Accounts preferences
If some settings are dimmed, click the lock icon and type an administrator name and password.
Select the user account you want to delete, and then click the Delete (minus) button.
Click OK to save the user’s files on the computer, or click Delete Immediately to remove the user account and all the user’s files.
If you saved the user’s files, they are stored in a disk image in the Deleted Users folder, which is in the Users folder on your startup disk.
To see the saved files, double-click the disk image in the Deleted Users folder.
To delete the user’s files, drag the disk image to the Trash.

changing computer name