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When you setup your PC for the very first time, Windows have automatically created a name for the PC. Most people don't care and don't bother to change it. However, it would be interesting to know how that string is constructed, especially as it doesn't look random.

For example, on one lap top is named: LAPTOP-FJNTRVPC.

  1. How does windows know/determine it's a LAPTOP?
  2. How does the remainder of the string (FJNTRVPC) get constructed?

Unfortunately the following similar questions and references did not yield a clear answer, as they provide contradicted or possibly outdated answers.

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1 Answers1

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Its because the people who made your laptop installed windows using a predefined set of configuration arguments. manufacturers who assemble and sell computers are called OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), and the windows installer lets those OEMs customize the setup experience by feeding it preconfigured data, as well as allow them install windows in a fully automated fashion at manufacturing-scale.

This article from your question states clearly how the name is generated if the OEM does not supply a ComputerName argument in the unattend.xml file their installer uses. To get more details on the exact arguments used, you will have to inspect that file.

From: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-shell-setup-computername

ComputerName specifies the computer name used to access the computer from the network.

Note In Windows 10, users can no longer enter a computer name during OOBE as the name is auto-generated. To set a default computer name pre-OOBE, OEMs can configure ComputerName in the Unattend.xml file and specify a name for the computer. After OOBE, end users can change this default computer name after OOBE by changing it in the System Properties page. Values

If ComputerName is not specified, a random computer name is generated.

If ComputerName set to an asterisk (*) or is included but empty (""), Windows creates a random 15-character name using up to 7 characters from FullName and Organization, then a dash, then more random characters.

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