Windows-System Error! A duplicate Name Exists on the Network

[dannyual767]

When I turned on my computer this morning, I got a message down at the bottom that said:

! Windows-System Error
A duplicate name exists on the network

This is in a small box at the bottom of the screen and it goes away when I try to right or left click on it for more details. I know that this can't be good and I need to fix it. Can anyone tell me what to do and how I go about fixing the problem. It seems that someone else may have the same IP address, right? It seems like they could intercept and steal all of my secure data and transmissions . Thanks, everyone!

BTW, I've posted this same message in another part of this forum for maximum visibility.

 

[Osiris]

that means you have 2 computers with the same name on your network

 

[dannyual767]

that means you have 2 computers with the same name on your network

Does this mean that there is another computer on the web with the same name or on "my" network. What are the implications? How could this have happened? What do I do to fix it?

 

[Osiris]

I take it you dont have a network right? Try renaming your pc. you on wireless? if so, are you wep protected?

 

[Ste]

Your a private network, public networks are not aware of anything in your network, except your external IP provided by your ISP.

what is your setup?


Modem>router> computers

how many computers do you have?

 

[dannyual767]

I'm actually not at home at the moment. I'm using my laptop and I'm wired into the internet. I'm going to assume that they have some kind of router for all of us to log on.

Ste, I'm going to assume that there are others logged onto the network here as well.

Do you think that someone else here has my laptop's IP address? I'm getting better and better with computers but I still don't understand a lot of things.

Thanks for the replies and hopefully I can get this figured out.

 

[Osiris]

someone with the same name as you probably is on the network also...where are you at?

 

[dannyual767]

someone with the same name as you probably is on the network also...where are you at?

Is this different than my IP address? In other words, if there really is someone with the same name as my computer, can they be receiving the reply information that is meant to be going to my computer?

I got this computer from my brother so it is named by him. I guess I could go and try to find the name. I'm going to assume that he named it with his own name and I'd be 100% surprized if someone here had the same name.

As far as where I am at the moment.......I'm always uncomfortable even saying that I'm not at home because one just never knows who may be reading these threads and what kind of no good they may decide to try knowing that I'm not home. Give me some time and later I'll post where I was.

 

[Osiris]

your ip address should be different when you hook it up somewhere else....within windows it will be the same but when you go to www.whatismyip.com it should give you a different ip

 

[bla!!]

All you need to do is change the comptuer name.

If you're on XP do this ->

Right click on my computer --> Click Properties --> Click Computer Name --> Click Change

Enter some unique name, then reboot and you should be set.