Fix 'A Duplicate Exists Name on the Network' error

After you start the Microsoft Windows computer that is connected to the local network, you may see one of the following error messages:

1. "Một tên đã tồn tại trên mạng"
2. "Duplicate name exists"
3. "Bạn không được kết nối được vì một tên đã xác định duplicate trên mạng" (lỗi hệ thống 52)

All of these errors will prevent Windows computers from connecting to the network. The device will start and operate in offline mode (disconnection).

Why does the duplicate name problem occur on Windows?

These errors are only found when connecting to a network on an old Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 computer. Windows clients display "A duplicate name exists on the network" when they detect two devices with the same network name. The cause of the error may be:

1. (Most common) Two Windows computers are placed under the same Computer Name in Windows System Properties
2. The local network has been set up to use Windows Workgroup and the name given to the group matches the names of some other devices on the network (such as a home broadband router)
3. (Less common) A Windows server on the network has been configured with two different network names

Note : The computer with this error does not necessarily have to be one of the devices with a duplicate name. Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems use NetBIOS and the Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) system to maintain a shared database for all network names. In the worst case, all NetBIOS devices on the network can report similar errors like this.

How to resolve Duplicate Name Exists error?

To resolve these errors on the Windows network, follow these steps:

1. If the network is using a Windows workgroup, make sure its name is different from the name (SSID) of any wireless router or access point.
2. Identify two Windows devices with the same name. Check each computer name in Control Panel.
3. In Control Panel, change the display name of one of the computers to an unused computer and have a different name from the Windows workgroup, then reboot the device.
4. On any device where the error message remains, update your computer's WINS database to remove any extended references to the old name.
5. If you receive a Error 52 system error, update the Windows server configuration so that it has only one network name.
   Consider upgrading any old Windows XP devices to a newer version of Windows.

See more:

1. Instructions for troubleshooting Windows 7 network errors
2. How to troubleshoot laptop lost Wi-Fi network
3. Instructions to fix yellow exclamation computer network with only 3 steps
4. Instructions for fixing Wifi errors with yellow exclamation