My Computer Name Keeps Changing

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Level 1

65 points

My Computer Name Keeps Changing

I system preferences sharing where you go to set your computer name I am noticing that mine says "Rob's iMac (3)" instead of "Rob's iMac". My network hasn't changed, haven't added or removed anything. I am using an airport extreme. One thing I remember is that every once in awhile I will get an odd prompt trying to connect to the wi fi related to this but I can't remember. But the annoying thing right now is that the OS will not allow me to go back and take that "(3)" off. Does it have anything to do with VMware and Windows 7 running on my system? It almost seems like the airport extreme thinks there are now three iMacs on the network......... thx in advance....

Posted on Aug 13, 2011 10:56 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 14, 2011 12:52 AM in response to robertd

There are multiple machines with that name on the network, Mac OS renames the computer to avoid the conflict. Been that way for years.

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Answer 2

robertd Author

Level 1

65 points

Aug 14, 2011 12:55 AM in response to Marc Wilson

Well I agree with that completely... except I only have one iMac in my house. Any way to removed duplicate entries from wherever they are since I only have one iMac? I guess my question is how did this start happening all of a sudden. Like I said, no network changes at all.

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Answer 3

May 27, 2012 12:12 PM in response to robertd

I am having the same issue. Did you ever get this resolved?

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Answer 4

Jun 12, 2012 3:10 PM in response to Marc Wilson

I have the same propblem, with no other computers on the network. I can go back and change the name back, but then it starts again re-naming the computer. I'm up to imac 6 now, there is a cause somewhere, but is it fixable? I'm running 10.7.4. Since you're a level 3 I thought you might know, or not.

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Answer 5

Jul 3, 2012 7:10 AM in response to Oxnardguy

I have also seen this. It appears to have started with the Lion update. I read in another thread that it might be due to my having both ENET and WiFi turned on. So I turned off WiFi.

I should now if it helps in a couple of days.

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Answer 6

Jul 10, 2012 7:46 AM in response to Richard Collyer1

If you have both sides connected, to the same network, then of course you'd have the problem. That goes without saying.

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Answer 7

Jul 10, 2012 8:38 AM in response to Marc Wilson

Since turning off WiFi, I have not had the problem. Marc, why is this now a problem with Lion? You make it sound like this has always been the way the system works. It is my experience that this only just started to be a problem when I upgraded to Lion.

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Answer 8

Jul 15, 2012 6:25 AM in response to robertd

I have exactly the same problem. There is one Mac on my network, WiFi is off on the Mac, the other machines are Windows 7 computers. The renames are completely random, sometimes even after waking from sleep. It's Lion that doesn't keep track and it's annoying the **** out of me.

My trusty Snow Leopard white iMac blew itself up (literally) two weeks ago so I was forced onto Lion. It's the worst OS X I've ever used - never had to google so often for workarounds and fixes (scrolling direction, hidden user Library, problems with Mail, keyboard mapping, the list goes on and on...)

If Mountain Lion fixes the renaming issue it might be worth the upgrade.

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Answer 9

Aug 6, 2012 8:30 AM in response to robertd

I never had this problem with Lion but it's appeared since updating to Mountain Lion. Sorry, Lars!

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Answer 10

Aug 6, 2012 12:00 PM in response to Montefalconese

NOOOOOO! (With echo)

It's so strange this bug affects so many people but there's no simple fix. Never had it under Snow Leopard.

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