Microsoft KB Archive/824352

Knowledge Base

Error 38: The Computer You Specified Is Already In Use on the Network

Article ID: 824352

Article Last Modified on 11/18/2003

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Virtual PC 2004
• Microsoft Virtual PC for Macintosh version 6.1
• Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1.1 Update
• Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 with Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Connectix Virtual PC for Macintosh version 6.0.2
• Connectix Virtual PC for Macintosh version 6.0.1
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac 6.0
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac 5.0
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac 5.0
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac 5.0
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac 5.0
• Connectix Virtual PC for Mac 5.0
• Connectix Virtual PC for Windows 5.2
• Connectix Virtual PC for Windows 5.1
• Connectix Virtual PC for Windows 5.0
• Connectix Virtual PC for Windows 4.3
• Connectix Virtual PC for Windows 4.2
• Connectix Virtual PC for Windows 4.1
• Connectix Virtual PC for Windows 4.0

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SYMPTOMS

When you start your guest PC (Windows) or your virtual machine (Macintosh) operating system, you may receive the following error message:

Error 38: The computer you specified is already in use on the network. To specify a different name, double-click the Network icon in Control Panel.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if there is another computer on the network that is using the same computer name as the guest PC (Windows) or the virtual machine (Macintosh) that you are trying to start. This situation may occur if you create a new guest PC (Windows) or a new virtual machine (Macintosh) and then use the Duplicate an existing PC option in the Configuration Options panel of the PC Setup wizard.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, rename the guest PC (Windows) or the virtual machine (Macintosh) to a unique name. The next time you start the guest PC or the virtual machine, the error message should not appear.

To rename the guest PC or the virtual machine:

1. Start the guest PC (Windows) or the virtual machine (Macintosh).
2. In the guest PC or the virtual machine, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click System, click the Computer Name tab, and then click Change.
4. In the Computer name box, type a new name, click OK, and then click OK again.
5. Restart the Guest PC or the virtual machine.

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB824352

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