How to Rename My Computer on Your Desktop

Here is a step-by-step process to help you change your computer icon. It is very important that you follow these steps exactly and that you create a backup of the registry file before you begin. Also please note that this only works on Windows XP.

1. Click start go to run and type in regedit. This should pull up a window with your registries in it.

2. Now look for the the folder HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and make sure you click on the + and don't double click the folder.

3. Next you scroll clear down to the CLSID folder and click the + as well.

4. Now you need to scroll all the way down to the {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} folder and click on it, not the + sign. Be careful on this step because it is really easy to make a mistake.

5. That should bring up some icons in the right side box. Look for LocalizedString, then right-click it and click rename to rename it as LocalizedString.old.

6. Next you need to create a new LocalizedString value name. To do this right click on the right side box and click new and select Expandable String Value. Now rename the newly created LocalizedString to LocalizedString.

7. Double click the newly created LocalizedString and a box will pop up. In that box type %USERNAME% on %COMPUTERNAME% in the Value data. Please note that USERNAME and COMPUTERNAME refer to the name that you desire to have my computer be named.

8. Finally exit the registry editor and restart your computer.

Enjoy your new computer name!