2. Don’t change the name of a computer once it’s been added to a network

Devices connected to a network are tracked by IP (internet protocol) and hardware (MAC) addresses. They also use names assigned by you or whoever sets up the network. Computers are especially sensitive to other computer names because of ‘sharing’. Computers keep a list of names of other computers on a network.

When an operating is first installed on a computer and joined to a network, a lot happens. All the computers on the network become aware of the new computer. The new computer builds its own list of other computers. Operating system variables are generated containing the name of the computer. And folder and file sharing on the new computer is offered to the network. The other computers see this and log the sharing capabilities of the new system.