Finder shows "iMac (2)" in sidebar

eamonlaser · eamonlaser #1 (**permalink**)

10-22-2011, 08:57 AM

Hi - I've searched this forum but couldn't find a similar issue...

I noticed today that in the finder sidebar, below "Devices", by computer's name has changed from "Eamon's iMac" to "Eamon's iMac (2)"

Doesn't seem to have broken anything so far, and I was about to change the name back via System Preferences > Sharing > Computer Name, but before I did I just wondered if anyone has had this happen to them and/or has any idea what might have caused it?

It's almost as if the computer thinks there is another computer on our network called Eamon's iMac (there isn't).

Any ideas?

iMac 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
OS X 10.5.8

bobtomay · bobtomay #2 (**permalink**)

10-22-2011, 12:10 PM

I've had it happen a couple of times. Never bothered me enough to find out why - just went and changed it back. If it took more than a few seconds to fix, that'd be another story.

eamonlaser · eamonlaser #3 (**permalink**)

10-24-2011, 02:46 PM

Thanks bobtomay

Well, I've changed the name back and we'll see how it goes.

I like to know why these things happen, so I'll keep looking for an answer...

EvenStranger · EvenStranger #4 (**permalink**)

10-24-2011, 04:00 PM

I believe it's tied to the DHCP addressing on your router. If you reboot your computer and it grabs a different address than it had before, the old address may not have cleared out of the address table yet, so, to distinguish itself from the other IP record still in the table, the Mac OS throws a number after the name, giving it a unique name to avoid any conflicts.

bobtomay #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,786 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	10-22-2011, 12:10 PM I've had it happen a couple of times. Never bothered me enough to find out why - just went and changed it back. If it took more than a few seconds to fix, that'd be another story. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
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Finder shows "iMac (2)" in sidebar

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eamonlaser #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 21, 2011 Posts: 3	10-22-2011, 08:57 AM Hi - I've searched this forum but couldn't find a similar issue... I noticed today that in the finder sidebar, below "Devices", by computer's name has changed from "Eamon's iMac" to "Eamon's iMac (2)" Doesn't seem to have broken anything so far, and I was about to change the name back via System Preferences > Sharing > Computer Name, but before I did I just wondered if anyone has had this happen to them and/or has any idea what might have caused it? It's almost as if the computer thinks there is another computer on our network called Eamon's iMac (there isn't). Any ideas? iMac 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo OS X 10.5.8
	QUOTE Thanks

EvenStranger #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 09, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 845 Mac Specs: Currently 13" Late 2010 MBA, 4GB/128GB; Early 2011 13" MBP, dual core i7 2.7ghz, 4gb ram, 500gb hd	10-24-2011, 04:00 PM I believe it's tied to the DHCP addressing on your router. If you reboot your computer and it grabs a different address than it had before, the old address may not have cleared out of the address table yet, so, to distinguish itself from the other IP record still in the table, the Mac OS throws a number after the name, giving it a unique name to avoid any conflicts.
	QUOTE Thanks

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