help needed: changing network settings

Okay guys,

I'm going to need some expert advice and since this forum has yet to fail me, I chose to come here first.

I don't know anything about networks or how they work. I am a little familiar with pc's and feel I can navigate okay. I'm no pro, but I get by.

My girlfriend asked me to come to her work and fix an old workhorse of a computer. The computer used to be the main computer and is the "home" computer on the network. The problem is that it's old and need to head to retirement but before I can send it there I would like help in setting up the newer computer to the "home" computer and designating the old computer as a random, non-imprtant computer on the network.

To sum up: her work added a computer to the office and assigned it as a random computer on the network. Something like "work3." What they should have done is assign it as the "home" computer and assign the old "home" to "work3." How easy/hard is it to change the designation? If I change the names of the computers on the network will the other computers then be able to read or boot from the new "home" computer? Do I need to change the IP address as well?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Steve

ps- please be gentle

 

Change the name there is nothing to worry about.